How to Select the Right Barber School Near East Chicago Indiana

Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near East Chicago IN, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your East Chicago home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the best option. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance 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 little 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.

What to Ask Barber Schools

Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your East Chicago IN home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices 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 some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you choose 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 meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in East Chicago IN 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 businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. 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 demanded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with East Chicago IN barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Indiana school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in East Chicago IN, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a East Chicago IN barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which East Chicago IN area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in East Chicago IN.

How to Train in Barbering in East Chicago

Choose in the Right East Chicago Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to obtain 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 sure to compile 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 compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in East Chicago Indiana.

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