How to Select the Right Barber Training Program Near Trumbull Connecticut
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Trumbull CT, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning 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 Trumbull residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at 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, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Trumbull CT home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Trumbull CT for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those 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 profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Trumbull CT barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Connecticut school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance 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 ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Trumbull 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 poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Trumbull CT barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Trumbull CT area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided in Trumbull CT.
How to Choose a Barber College in Trumbull
Enroll in the Right Trumbull Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Trumbull Connecticut.