How to Select the Best Barber Course Near Maricopa Arizona
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Maricopa AZ, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Maricopa residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a list 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 Maricopa AZ home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 college. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Maricopa AZ for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent 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, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Maricopa AZ barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Maricopa AZ, 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 poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Maricopa AZ barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Maricopa AZ area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult 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 available to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be offered in Maricopa AZ.
How to Choose a Barber School in Maricopa
Enroll in the Best Maricopa Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the right barber training program is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Maricopa Arizona.