How to Find the Best Barber Training Near Orland Park Illinois
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Orland Park IL, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Orland Park home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a 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 list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Orland Park IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Orland Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Orland Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that specializes in 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Orland Park IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Orland Park IL barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she receives support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Orland Park IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Consult with 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be available in Orland Park IL.
How to Train in Barbering in Orland Park
Enroll in the Right Orland Park Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin 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 right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Orland Park Illinois.
Orland Park Barber Colleges | Orland Park How To Become A Barber