How to Pick the Right Barbering College Near Round Lake Beach Illinois

Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Round Lake Beach IL, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused 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 pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Round Lake Beach home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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?

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 Barbering Schools

Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Round Lake Beach IL home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you enroll in 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Round Lake Beach 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, numerous employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any 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 businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Round Lake Beach IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with 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 Specialty?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Round Lake Beach IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. 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 real people. If a Round Lake Beach IL barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with local employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Round Lake Beach IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial help may be available in Round Lake Beach IL.

How to Train to Be a Barber in Round Lake Beach

Choose in the Best Round Lake Beach Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Round Lake Beach Illinois.

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