How to Choose the Best Barber Training Near Napa California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Napa CA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit unclear 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Napa home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at 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 Become a Barber?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Napa CA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely 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 reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you select 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Napa CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Napa CA barber shop owners or managers, or someone 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 thought of. Finally, consult the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently 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 ambition is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Napa CA, then you need 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 provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Napa CA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Napa CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be provided in Napa CA.
How to Become a Barber in Napa
Enroll in the Right Napa Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to collect 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 start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Napa California.