How to Pick the Best Barber College Near Tinley Park Illinois
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Tinley Park IL, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused 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 relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Tinley Park home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Tinley Park IL residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Tinley Park IL for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Tinley Park IL barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Illinois school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 desire is to open a barber shop in Tinley Park IL, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Tinley Park IL barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Tinley Park IL area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 offered to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial aid may be available in Tinley Park IL.
How to Choose a Barber College in Tinley Park
Choose in the Right Tinley Park Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to receive the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Tinley Park Illinois.