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Questions to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Farmington Hills MI residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of Farmington Hills MI businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Farmington Hills MI barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Michigan 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 Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Farmington Hills MI, then you need 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 provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Farmington Hills MI barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Farmington Hills MI area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided in Farmington Hills MI.