How to Pick the Right Barbering College Near Lockport Illinois
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Lockport IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you select not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares 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 titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lockport home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lockport IL residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you enroll in 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Lockport IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Lockport IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. 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 cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on 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 vision is to start a barber shop in Lockport IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Lockport IL barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Lockport IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 Offered? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be offered in Lockport IL.
How to Train in Barbering in Lockport
Enroll in the Right Lockport Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, 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 ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Lockport Illinois.