It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Barbering Career Below
Questions to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Tyler TX home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of Tyler TX businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating 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 businesses where they have referred their students. Check 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 contacts with Tyler TX barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Texas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances 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, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 Tyler TX, then you need 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 require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Check 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 make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Tyler TX barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Tyler TX area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided in Tyler TX.