How to Pick the Right Barber College Near Tempe Arizona
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Tempe AZ, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference 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 type of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Tempe home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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 Become a Barber?
The majority of today’s barbers no doubt were inspired to explore this profession because of their own sense of style coupled with fond memories of visiting their local barber shop. For those considering this career, several trips to the barber is most definitely in order. Taking in the atmosphere, the clientele, and the work is one of the best ways to become familiar with how a barber’s day is spent. A barber is a professional who specializes in cutting and styling men’s hair and caring for men’s facial hair, skin, and scalps. Of course they are primarily employed in barbershops, although a number of high-end hotels and spas now employ barbers full-time to serve traveling businessmen. To be successful, individuals should be friendly and outgoing, and they should enjoy meeting new people and spending the better part of their day socializing with the clients they serve. Those interested in barbering should be prepared to spend the majority of the day on their feet and working with their hands. Barbers usually enjoy flexible schedules, relaxed working environments, and a solid income once they establish a regular clientele.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Tempe AZ residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Tempe AZ for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Tempe AZ barber shop owners or managers, or any person 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. Finally, contact the Arizona school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Tempe AZ, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Tempe AZ barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Tempe AZ area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools provide 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 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be available in Tempe AZ.
How to Train in Barbering in Tempe
Choose in the Best Tempe Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional barber in Tempe Arizona.