What to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Willowbrook CA home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must 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 selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you choose 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Willowbrook CA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may 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 exceptional reputation within the field. 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, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Willowbrook CA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the California school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in Willowbrook CA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Willowbrook CA barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using 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? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Willowbrook CA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be offered in Willowbrook CA.