How to Select the Best Barbering Training Near Streamwood Illinois

Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Streamwood IL, the process begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the difference 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 type of school. We'll talk a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Streamwood home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later in 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?

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.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Streamwood IL home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Streamwood IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Streamwood IL barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select 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 aspiration is to open a barber shop in Streamwood IL, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check 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 allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Streamwood IL barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with local employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Streamwood IL area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Streamwood IL.

How to Choose a Barber School in Streamwood

Choose in the Right Streamwood Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, 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 selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Streamwood Illinois.

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