How to Enroll In the Best Barber Training Near Waterbury Connecticut
Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Waterbury CT, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Waterbury home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing 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 many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about 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 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.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Waterbury CT home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Waterbury 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, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Waterbury CT barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Connecticut school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 aspiration is to launch a barber shop in Waterbury CT, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Waterbury CT barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Waterbury CT area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools provide 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 identify what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Waterbury CT.
How to Choose a Barber School in Waterbury
Enroll in the Right Waterbury Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Waterbury Connecticut.