How to Pick the Right Barber School Near Kankakee Illinois
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Kankakee IL, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll talk a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Kankakee residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the right choice. There are many other factors 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 looking at later within 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 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.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Kankakee IL residence, together with the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Kankakee IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Kankakee IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, 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 see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 specializes in 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Kankakee IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Kankakee IL barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she gets help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Kankakee IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, 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 respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? 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 department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered in Kankakee IL.
How to Choose a Barber School in Kankakee
Enroll in the Right Kankakee Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Kankakee Illinois.