How to Pick the Right Barber Academy Near Bowling Green Kentucky
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Bowling Green KY, the task starts to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast 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 discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Bowling Green residence. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance 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 discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Bowling Green KY home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Bowling Green KY for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may 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 excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Bowling Green KY barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that focuses on 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 open a barber shop in Bowling Green KY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Bowling Green KY barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore search for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with local businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Bowling Green KY 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to 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 offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available in Bowling Green KY.
How to Choose a Barber School in Bowling Green
Enroll in the Right Bowling Green Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Bowling Green Kentucky.
Bowling Green Barber Academy | Bowling Green Barbering Courses