Barbering Training Courses
How to Select the Best One Near Pittsfield Massachusetts

Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the right barber college near Pittsfield MA to receive your training. Because barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the college you select should prep you to pass the licensing test as well as provide the proper training for your specialty. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are in effect interchangeable and relate to the same kind of school, there is no need to be. You will want to find a school that is within reasonable driving distance of your residence unless you plan to relocate for training. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating prospective barber schools. However, a school is not always the right option simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about barbering as a career.

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Why Become a Barber?

Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities.  As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any Pittsfield MA barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable.  The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients.  And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair.  This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Pittsfield MA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Pittsfield MA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Pittsfield MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Pittsfield MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Pittsfield MA barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Pittsfield MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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 considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be available in Pittsfield MA.

Find Out More on Learning to Become a Barber in Pittsfield

Enroll in the Right Pittsfield Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Pittsfield Massachusetts.

 

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