How to Pick the Right Barbering Course Near Hollywood California
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Hollywood CA, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Hollywood residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are various other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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, 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 Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Hollywood CA home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School 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 acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Hollywood CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Hollywood CA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick 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 desire is to launch a barber shop in Hollywood CA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Check 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 enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Hollywood CA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating 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 college, it's important that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Hollywood CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be available in Hollywood CA.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Hollywood
Enroll in the Right Hollywood Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Hollywood California.