How to Pick the Right Barber Training Near Mesa Arizona
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Mesa AZ, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Mesa home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Mesa AZ home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Mesa AZ for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. 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 sought after. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Mesa AZ barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance 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 objective 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in Mesa AZ, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Mesa AZ barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Mesa AZ area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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? Almost all 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. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be available in Mesa AZ.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Mesa
Enroll in the Best Mesa Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Mesa Arizona.