Barbering Training
How to Choose the Best One Near Westfield Massachusetts
Now that you have made the decision to begin your career in barbering, you must find the best barber school near Westfield MA to get your training. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. You may be a little puzzled when starting your search for barbering classes as to the difference between beauty and cosmetology schools, which both provide barber training. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the following section. You will need to find a campus that is within reasonable commuting distance of your residence unless you can relocate for training. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing prospective barber schools. However, a school is not always the best choice simply because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, for example are among the other qualifications that you need to evaluate when comparing schools. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what cosmetology is, and what types of training programs are offered.
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Barbering and Cosmetology
Cosmetology is an occupation that is everything about making the human body look more attractive through the application of cosmetics. So naturally it makes sense that a number of cosmetology schools are referred to as beauty schools. Most of us think of makeup when we hear the word cosmetics, but basically a cosmetic can be almost anything that improves the look of a person's skin, hair or nails. If you want to work as a barber, most states require that you undergo some type of specialized training and then be licensed. Once licensed, the work settings include not only Westfield MA barber shops, but also such places as spas, hotels and resorts. Many barbers, once they have gained experience and a clientele, launch their own shops or salons. Others will start seeing clients either in their own homes or will travel to the client's residence, or both. Cosmetology college graduates go by many professional names 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 mentioned, in all states working barbers must be licensed. In a few 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, such as shampooers, are not required to be licensed in those states.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Westfield MA home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you select 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many Westfield MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Westfield MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Westfield MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques demands lots 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 talents on real people. If a Westfield MA barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate 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 important that she or he gets assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Westfield MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be available in Westfield MA.
Find Out More on Becoming a Barber in Westfield
Choose the Best Westfield Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, 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 qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Westfield Massachusetts.