How to Pick the Best Barber College Near Naperville Illinois

Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Naperville IL, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Naperville home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications 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 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 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 Barber Colleges

Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Naperville IL residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber college you pick 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Naperville IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many 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 an Excellent Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Naperville IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective 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 launch a barber shop in Naperville 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 weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Naperville IL barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he gets help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with local employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Naperville IL area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be available in Naperville IL.

How to Choose a Barber College in Naperville

Enroll in the Right Naperville Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Naperville Illinois.

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