How to Find the Right Barbering College Near Belvidere Illinois
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Belvidere IL, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat 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 discuss a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Belvidere residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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?
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 Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Belvidere IL residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Belvidere IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Belvidere IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Belvidere IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Belvidere IL barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Belvidere IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be offered in Belvidere IL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Belvidere
Enroll in the Best Belvidere Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Belvidere Illinois.