How to Pick the Best Barber Academy Near Franklin Park Illinois

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Franklin Park IL, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Franklin Park residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within 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 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.

Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges

Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Franklin Park IL residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college you choose 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Franklin Park 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, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Each barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Franklin Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 launch a barber shop in Franklin Park IL, then you want 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 deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Franklin Park IL barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she gets support in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with local businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Franklin Park IL area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of 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 learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Franklin Park IL.

How to Train in Barbering in Franklin Park

Enroll in the Best Franklin Park Barber College

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Franklin Park Illinois.

Franklin Park Barbering Classes | Franklin Park Barbering Training