How to Select the Best Barber School Near West Memphis Arkansas
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near West Memphis AR, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your West Memphis home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the right choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within 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?
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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your West Memphis AR home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in West Memphis AR for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with West Memphis AR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Arkansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in West Memphis AR, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a West Memphis AR barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which West Memphis AR area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering 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 too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided in West Memphis AR.
How to Become a Barber in West Memphis
Enroll in the Right West Memphis Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in West Memphis Arkansas.
West Memphis Barbering Schools | West Memphis Barber Academy