How to Choose the Right Barber School Near Glen Ellyn Illinois
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Glen Ellyn IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Glen Ellyn home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the right choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a 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.
What to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Glen Ellyn IL residence, 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 undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Glen Ellyn IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. 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 regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Glen Ellyn 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 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 submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Glen Ellyn IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Glen Ellyn IL barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help 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 ask which Glen Ellyn IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Glen Ellyn IL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Glen Ellyn
Enroll in the Best Glen Ellyn Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to consolidate 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 sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Glen Ellyn Illinois.