How to Choose the Right Barbering Training Near Tinley Park Illinois
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Tinley Park IL, the process starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Tinley Park residence. Tuition will also be a critical factor when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in 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 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 Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Tinley Park IL home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential 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 meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Tinley Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Tinley Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 vision is to open a barber shop in Tinley Park IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing 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. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Tinley Park IL barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with area employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Tinley Park IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Tinley Park IL.
How to Train in Barbering in Tinley Park
Choose in the Best Tinley Park Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Tinley Park Illinois.