How to Find the Best Barber College Near Lauderdale Lakes Florida
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Lauderdale Lakes FL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction 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 discuss a little bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lauderdale Lakes residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at 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 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 series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Lauderdale Lakes FL residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Lauderdale Lakes FL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement 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 might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every 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 testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lauderdale Lakes FL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Florida school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 intention 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 aspiration is to launch a barber shop in Lauderdale Lakes FL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Lauderdale Lakes FL barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Lauderdale Lakes FL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many 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 may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Lauderdale Lakes FL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Lauderdale Lakes
Enroll in the Right Lauderdale Lakes Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Lauderdale Lakes Florida.
Lauderdale Lakes Barber Colleges | Lauderdale Lakes How To Become A Barber