It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your East Islip NY residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you enroll in 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 meet their high standards ensuring a quality 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 prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many East Islip NY employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with East Islip NY barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, contact the New York 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 beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in East Islip NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a East Islip NY barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which East Islip NY 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 wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available in East Islip NY.