How to Enroll In the Best Barber Training Program Near El Cerrito California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near El Cerrito CA, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your El Cerrito residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering 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 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 Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your El Cerrito CA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in El Cerrito 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, numerous employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with El Cerrito CA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the California 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 Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 open a barber shop in El Cerrito CA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a El Cerrito CA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type 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 securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which El Cerrito 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 Assistance Offered? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided in El Cerrito CA.
How to Choose a Barber College in El Cerrito
Enroll in the Right El Cerrito Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize 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 sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, 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 proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in El Cerrito California.
El Cerrito Barbering Colleges | El Cerrito Schools For Barbering