How to Pick the Best Barber School Near Oro Valley Arizona
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Oro Valley AZ, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Oro Valley residence. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the best choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Oro Valley AZ home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you pick 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Oro Valley AZ for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Oro Valley AZ barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Arizona school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Oro Valley AZ, then you need 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 require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Oro Valley AZ barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Oro Valley AZ area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid 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. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial help may be available in Oro Valley AZ.
How to Choose a Barber School in Oro Valley
Enroll in the Best Oro Valley Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Oro Valley Arizona.
Oro Valley Barber Colleges | Oro Valley How To Become A Barber