How to Select the Right Barber Classes Near Franklin Park Illinois

Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Franklin Park IL, the task begins to locate and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you pick not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll talk a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Franklin Park residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a 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 Schools

Following is a series of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Franklin Park IL home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school 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 meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Franklin Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Franklin Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person 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. And last, contact 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 Focus?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Franklin Park IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Franklin Park IL barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Franklin Park IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask 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 Aid Offered?  The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be available in Franklin Park IL.

How to Choose a Barber College in Franklin Park

Choose in the Right Franklin Park Barber College

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down 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 new career as a professional barber in Franklin Park Illinois.

Franklin Park Barber Colleges | Franklin Park How To Become A Barber