How to Find the Best Barbering College Near Jacksonville Florida

Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Jacksonville FL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Jacksonville home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a 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 series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Jacksonville FL residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Jacksonville FL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Jacksonville FL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And last, consult the Florida school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed 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, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Jacksonville FL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques demands plenty 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 campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Jacksonville FL barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look 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 crucial that he or she gets assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Jacksonville FL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check 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 is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial help may be provided in Jacksonville FL.

How to Choose a Barber College in Jacksonville

Choose in the Right Jacksonville Barber School

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, 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 ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Jacksonville Florida.

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