How to Find the Best Barber Course Near Oak Lawn Illinois
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Oak Lawn IL, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be rather puzzled about the distinction 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 relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Oak Lawn residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding 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?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Oak Lawn IL home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Oak Lawn IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Oak Lawn IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person 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 considered. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in Oak Lawn IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Oak Lawn IL barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she receives assistance in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Oak Lawn IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask 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 Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided in Oak Lawn IL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Oak Lawn
Choose in the Best Oak Lawn Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Oak Lawn Illinois.