How to Enroll In the Best Barbering Training Program Near Evergreen Park Illinois
Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Evergreen Park IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial 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 names are basically interchangeable and both relate 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 want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Evergreen Park home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example 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 talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Evergreen Park IL home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Evergreen Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent 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. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Evergreen Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 start a barber shop in Evergreen Park IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Evergreen Park IL barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Evergreen Park IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered in Evergreen Park IL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Evergreen Park
Choose in the Best Evergreen Park Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure 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 article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Evergreen Park Illinois.
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