How to Enroll In the Best Barbering College Near South Bend Indiana

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near South Bend IN, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit 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 discuss a bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your South Bend residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about 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 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.

What to Ask Barber Schools

Below is a list of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your South Bend IN home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.

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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in South Bend IN for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with South Bend IN barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the Indiana school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in South Bend IN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a South Bend IN barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which South Bend IN area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be offered 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 training program is important to obtain 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 information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on 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 filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in South Bend Indiana.

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