How to Find the Best Barbering Training Program Near Northbrook Illinois
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Northbrook IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Northbrook home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 Choose Barbering?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Northbrook IL home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Northbrook 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 employers will not recruit 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 evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Northbrook IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. 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 beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 open a barber shop in Northbrook IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Northbrook IL barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Northbrook IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide 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. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be available in Northbrook IL.
How to Become a Barber in Northbrook
Enroll in the Best Northbrook Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Northbrook Illinois.
Northbrook Barber Colleges | Northbrook How To Become A Barber