How to Choose the Right Barber Classes Near Chicago Illinois
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Chicago IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast 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 kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Chicago home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when evaluating potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the right option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 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.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Chicago IL home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
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 certified 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Chicago IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Chicago IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, 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 considered. And last, contact 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 Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a barber shop in Chicago 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 poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Chicago IL barber college offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So try to find alternate 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 important that he or she gets help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Chicago IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to 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 omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Chicago IL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Chicago
Choose in the Best Chicago Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Chicago Illinois.