How to Pick the Right Barbering College Near Denver Colorado
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Denver CO, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Denver home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance 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 discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
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
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Denver CO residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Denver CO for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Denver CO barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Colorado school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 desire is to launch a barber shop in Denver CO, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Denver CO barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Denver CO area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most 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 department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided in Denver CO.
How to Choose a Barber School in Denver
Choose in the Right Denver Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A good 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 base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Denver Colorado.