How to Pick the Right Barbering School Near Canoga Park California
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Canoga Park CA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the distinction 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Canoga Park home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Canoga Park CA home, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you select 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Canoga Park CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Canoga Park CA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, contact the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that specializes in 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Canoga Park CA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Canoga Park CA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with local businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Canoga Park CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial aid may be provided in Canoga Park CA.
How to Choose a Barber College in Canoga Park
Choose in the Best Canoga Park Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain 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 use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied 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 test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Canoga Park California.