How to Find the Best Barber Academy Near Collinsville Illinois

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Collinsville IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education 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 somewhat puzzled about the difference 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 discuss a little bit more regarding 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 Collinsville residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at 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 Training Programs

Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Collinsville IL home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial 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 reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Collinsville IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some 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 individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Collinsville IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Collinsville 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 require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Collinsville IL barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Collinsville IL area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected 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 considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Collinsville IL.

How to Become a Barber in Collinsville

Choose in the Right Collinsville Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start 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 ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Collinsville Illinois.

Collinsville Barbering Schools | Collinsville Barber Academy