How to Choose the Best Barber School Near Park Forest Illinois
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Park Forest IL, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Park Forest residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not always the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
What to Ask Barber Training Programs
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 Park Forest IL residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college you pick 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Park Forest IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating 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 placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Park Forest IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? 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 often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Park Forest IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands lots 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 campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Park Forest IL barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Park Forest IL area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm 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. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be available in Park Forest IL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Park Forest
Choose in the Right Park Forest Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber college is important to get the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Park Forest Illinois.
Park Forest How To Become A Barber | Park Forest Barbering Classes