How to Choose the Best Barber College Near Boca Raton Florida
Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Boca Raton FL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak 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 Boca Raton residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing 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 talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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 Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Boca Raton FL home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber training program you choose 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Boca Raton FL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Boca Raton FL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Florida school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Boca Raton FL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Boca Raton FL barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Boca Raton FL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. 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 available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Boca Raton FL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Boca Raton
Choose in the Best Boca Raton Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution 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 post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Boca Raton Florida.