How to Enroll In the Best Barber Academy Near Inglewood California
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Inglewood CA, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the difference 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Inglewood residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the right choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 Barbering Schools
Below 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 Inglewood CA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you pick 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Inglewood 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 businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might 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 industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Inglewood CA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some 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 instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Inglewood CA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Inglewood CA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Inglewood CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might 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 with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided in Inglewood CA.
How to Become a Barber in Inglewood
Choose in the Right Inglewood Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Inglewood California.