How to Select the Best Barber Training Program Near Melrose Park Illinois

Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Melrose Park IL, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Melrose Park residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in 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 Choose Barbering?

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 Schools

Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Melrose Park IL home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Melrose Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Melrose Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Melrose Park IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Melrose Park IL barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best 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 school, it's important that he or she gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Melrose Park IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many barber schools offer 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 identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be provided in Melrose Park IL.

How to Train in Barbering in Melrose Park

Choose in the Best Melrose Park Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Melrose Park Illinois.

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