Barbering Colleges
How to Pick the Best One Near Wakefield Massachusetts
Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the best barber school near Wakefield MA to receive your training. Because barbers are required to be licensed in all states, the college you select should prepare you to pass the licensing exam and provide the necessary training for your specialty. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both offer barbering programs. Because the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and relate to the same type of school, you shouldn’t be. We'll talk a bit more about that in the following segment. You will need to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your home unless you plan to relocate for training. Another qualification when evaluating prospective barbering schools is the price of tuition. But keep in mind, a school is not always the best choice just because it has the lowest tuition or is located closest to your home. Reputation and accreditation, for example are two of the other qualifications that you should evaluate when weighing your school options. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of courses are offered.
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Barbering is a Specialty of Cosmetology
Cosmetology is a profession that is everything about making the human body look more attractive with the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are regarded as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the term cosmetics, but really 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, the majority of states require that you take some form of specialized training and then be licensed. Once you are licensed, the work environments include not only Wakefield MA barber shops, but also such businesses as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a clientele, open their own shops or salons. Others will begin seeing customers either in their own residences or will go to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates have many professional names and are employed in a wide range of specialties including:
• Hairstylists
• Beauticians
• Barbers
• Manicurists
• Nail Technicians
• Makeup Artists
• Hair Coloring Specialists
• Estheticians
• Electrolysis Technicians
As previously stated, in every state practicing barbers have to be licensed. In some states there is an exemption for cosmetologists in general. Only those performing more skilled services, for instance barbers or hairstylists, are required to be licensed. Other people employed in cosmetology and less skilled, which include shampooers, are not required to become licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Wakefield MA residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Wakefield MA businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Wakefield MA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete 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, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Wakefield MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Wakefield MA barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Wakefield MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be available in Wakefield MA.
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Choose the Best Wakefield Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional barber in Wakefield Massachusetts.