Barbering Schools
How to Choose the Best One Near Oxford Massachusetts

Now that you have decided to begin your career in barbering, you must find the best barber school near Oxford MA to receive your training. Since barbers are licensed in all states, the school you choose should prepare you to pass the licensing exam as well as provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and pertain to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. In the next section that will be discussed in a bit more detail. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing possible barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the best choice. Reputation and accreditation, as examples are among the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when comparing schools. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what kinds of courses are available.

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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology

Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human anatomy look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that numerous cosmetology schools are described as beauty schools. Many of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but actually a cosmetic can be almost anything that enhances the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, almost all states require that you undergo some kind of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Oxford MA barber shops, but also such venues as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, after they have acquired experience and a client base, establish their own shops or salons. Others will begin servicing customers either in their own homes or will go to the client's home, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many titles and are employed in a wide variety of specializations including:

• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians

As previously stated, in all states working barbers have to be licensed. In some states there is an exception for cosmetologists in general. Only those conducting more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Others working in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.

What to Ask Barbering Schools

Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Oxford MA home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Oxford MA employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Oxford MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Oxford MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Oxford MA barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Oxford MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available in Oxford MA.

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Enroll in the Best Oxford Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Oxford Massachusetts.

 

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