How to Choose the Best Barber College Near Mesa Arizona
Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Mesa AZ, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Mesa residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Mesa AZ residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber training program you pick 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Mesa AZ for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. 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, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Mesa AZ barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Arizona school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Mesa AZ, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Mesa AZ barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with local businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Mesa AZ area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided in Mesa AZ.
How to Train in Barbering in Mesa
Enroll in the Best Mesa Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Mesa Arizona.