It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you should research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Arlington TX home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial 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 every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous Arlington TX businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Arlington TX barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Texas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Arlington TX, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded 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 people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Arlington TX barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Arlington TX area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided in Arlington TX.