How to Choose the Right Barbering Training Program Near Bakersfield California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Bakersfield CA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the program you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. 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 essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bakersfield home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance 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 bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bakersfield CA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber college you choose 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Bakersfield CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Bakersfield CA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the California 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 broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Bakersfield CA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Bakersfield CA barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Bakersfield CA 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of 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 learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of 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 before you learn what financial aid may be provided in Bakersfield CA.
How to Train in Barbering in Bakersfield
Choose in the Best Bakersfield Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce 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 qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Bakersfield California.