How to Enroll In the Right Barber School Near Round Lake Beach Illinois

Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Round Lake Beach IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Round Lake Beach residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not automatically the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 Become a Barber?

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.

What to Ask Barbering Training Programs

Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Round Lake Beach IL residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Round Lake Beach IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber school 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 businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Round Lake Beach IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on 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 well regarded 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 teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Round Lake Beach IL barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of 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 Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Round Lake Beach IL area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  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 office. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be available in Round Lake Beach IL.

How to Choose a Barber College in Round Lake Beach

Choose in the Right Round Lake Beach Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to get the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget 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 sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Round Lake Beach Illinois.

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