How to Select the Right Barbering Training Near Whittier California
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Whittier CA, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative 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 might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Whittier residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 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.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Whittier CA residence, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Whittier 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, numerous businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references 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. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Whittier CA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And 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? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently 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 intention 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 Whittier CA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Whittier CA barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for other 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 essential that he or she receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Whittier CA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be available in Whittier CA.
How to Become a Barber in Whittier
Choose in the Right Whittier Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Whittier California.