How to Find the Best Barber College Near Waterbury Connecticut
Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Waterbury CT, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather 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 pertain to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Waterbury home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing 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 in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Following 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 Waterbury CT residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Waterbury CT for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many 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? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Waterbury CT barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Connecticut school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Waterbury CT, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Waterbury CT barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with local employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Waterbury CT area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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 looking at 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 as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be offered in Waterbury CT.
How to Train in Barbering in Waterbury
Choose in the Right Waterbury Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Waterbury Connecticut.