How to Select the Best Barber Academy Near Urbandale Iowa
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Urbandale IA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Urbandale home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little 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 Barber Colleges
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 Urbandale IA home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want 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 additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Urbandale 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, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Urbandale 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 thought of. And finally, check with the Iowa school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a barber shop in Urbandale IA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Urbandale IA barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives aid in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Urbandale IA area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and learn 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 as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided in Urbandale IA.
How to Become a Barber in Urbandale
Enroll in the Right Urbandale Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be 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 sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Urbandale Iowa.