Barbering Colleges
How to Select the Best One Near Yarmouth Massachusetts
Now that you have made the decision to become a barber, you must enroll in the right barber school near Yarmouth MA to receive your training. Since barbers are required to be licensed in all 50 states, the college you select should prep you to pass the licensing exam and provide the proper training for your specialty. You may be a little confused when beginning your search for barbering programs as to the difference between cosmetology and beauty schools, which both provide barber training. Since the names are for all practical purposes interchangeable and pertain to the same kind of school, you shouldn’t be. You will need to find a campus that is within reasonable driving distance of your home unless you are willing to relocate for training. Another qualification when evaluating possible barbering schools is the cost of tuition. However, a school is not always the right option just because it happens to have a campus near your home or is lower in cost. Accreditation and reputation, as examples are two of the other qualifications that you should evaluate when weighing your school options. Now we will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering.
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Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Yarmouth MA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Yarmouth MA employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Yarmouth MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, 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. Finally, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Yarmouth MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Yarmouth MA barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Yarmouth MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial help may be provided in Yarmouth MA.
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Enroll in the Right Yarmouth Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to obtain 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 information 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 start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Yarmouth Massachusetts.