How to Choose the Best Barber School Near Ankeny Iowa
Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Ankeny IA, the process begins to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the program you select not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Ankeny home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the best choice. There are various other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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?
A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.
What to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Ankeny IA residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably 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 narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Ankeny IA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria 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? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Ankeny IA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to launch a barber shop in Ankeny IA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Ankeny IA barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Ankeny IA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Ankeny IA.
How to Train in Barbering in Ankeny
Choose in the Right Ankeny Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to consolidate 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 reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Ankeny Iowa.