How to Select the Best Barber Academy Near Lewiston Idaho
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Lewiston ID, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear 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 discuss a little bit more about that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lewiston home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering 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 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 Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lewiston ID home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you choose 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Lewiston ID for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Lewiston ID barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Idaho school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full 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, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Lewiston ID, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Lewiston ID barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Lewiston ID area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you determine what financial help may be available in Lewiston ID.
How to Train in Barbering in Lewiston
Enroll in the Best Lewiston Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to obtain the necessary 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. Don't forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down 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 qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in Lewiston Idaho.