How to Pick the Best Barber School Near Newark Delaware
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Newark DE, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more about that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Newark residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
What to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Newark DE residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Newark DE for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several 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 positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Newark DE barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Delaware school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden 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 objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Newark DE, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Newark DE barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he gets help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Newark DE area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of 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 with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be available in Newark DE.
How to Train in Barbering in Newark
Enroll in the Best Newark Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to obtain the proper 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 consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer 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 Newark Delaware.