How to Enroll In the Best Barbering College Near Duluth Georgia
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Duluth GA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction 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 refer to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Duluth home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
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 Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Duluth GA residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber college 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Duluth GA 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 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? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Duluth GA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Georgia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Duluth GA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Duluth GA barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Duluth GA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Duluth GA.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Duluth
Choose in the Right Duluth Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Duluth Georgia.