How to Choose the Right Barbering School Near El Cajon California
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near El Cajon CA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your El Cajon home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your El Cajon CA home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you pick 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in El Cajon CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably 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 outstanding 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, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with El Cajon CA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the California 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 Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in El Cajon 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 poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a El Cajon CA barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she receives support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which El Cajon CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad 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 investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved 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 with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be available in El Cajon CA.
How to Become a Barber in El Cajon
Enroll in the Right El Cajon Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget 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 data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in El Cajon California.