How to Select the Best Barbering Classes Near New Canaan Connecticut
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near New Canaan CT, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your New Canaan home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not always the best option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at 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 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 Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your New Canaan CT residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber training program you pick 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in New Canaan CT for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some 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 favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating 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 New Canaan CT barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Connecticut school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating 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 choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in New Canaan CT, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a New Canaan CT barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which New Canaan CT area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many 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. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be offered in New Canaan CT.
How to Train in Barbering in New Canaan
Enroll in the Best New Canaan Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber college is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as 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 utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in New Canaan Connecticut.
New Canaan Schools For Barbering | New Canaan Barber Schools