How to Choose the Right Barbering Classes Near Oildale California
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Oildale CA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Oildale home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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 Become a Barber?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
Questions to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Oildale CA residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, 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 important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Oildale CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not employ 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 considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Oildale CA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the California school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 vision is to start a barber shop in Oildale 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 deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live 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. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Oildale CA barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she receives help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Oildale CA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask 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 Aid Available? The majority of 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 might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial help may be offered in Oildale CA.
How to Train in Barbering in Oildale
Choose in the Right Oildale Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect 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 contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Oildale California.