How to Find the Best Barber School Near Alton Illinois
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Alton IL, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Alton home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when evaluating 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 several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Alton IL residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Alton IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria 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 favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Alton IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing 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 essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Alton IL, 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 require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Alton IL barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with area employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Alton IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered in Alton IL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Alton
Choose in the Best Alton Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Alton Illinois.