How to Choose the Best Barber Academy Near Lenexa Kansas
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Lenexa KS, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled about the difference 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 type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lenexa residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Lenexa KS home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Lenexa KS for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lenexa KS barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, 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. And finally, contact the Kansas school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance 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 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Lenexa KS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Lenexa KS barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with area businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Lenexa KS area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial aid may be provided in Lenexa KS.
How to Choose a Barber School in Lenexa
Choose in the Right Lenexa Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to receive the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Lenexa Kansas.