How to Find the Best Barbering Academy Near Bellwood Illinois
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Bellwood IL, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bellwood home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about 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?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Bellwood IL residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed 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 school. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you pick 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Bellwood IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Bellwood IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Illinois 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 Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Bellwood IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Bellwood IL barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Bellwood IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many 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 department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be offered in Bellwood IL.
How to Become a Barber in Bellwood
Choose in the Right Bellwood Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Bellwood Illinois.