How to Select the Best Barbering Training Near South Bend Indiana

Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near South Bend IN, the process starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your South Bend home. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best choice. There are various other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk 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 list of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your South Bend IN residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your first 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 additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in South Bend IN for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers 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?  Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with South Bend IN barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, check with the Indiana school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to launch a barber shop in South Bend IN, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty 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 campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a South Bend IN barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he receives assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which South Bend IN area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 Aid Available?  Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify 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 cost, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in South Bend IN.

How to Choose a Barber School in South Bend

Choose in the Right South Bend Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in South Bend Indiana.

South Bend How To Become A Barber | South Bend Barbering Classes