How to Select the Best Barber Training Near Covington Kentucky
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Covington KY, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential 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 begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Covington residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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 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.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Covington KY home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn 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 training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Covington KY for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Covington KY barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. Finally, check with the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 dream is to open a barber shop in Covington KY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Covington KY barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets help in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Covington KY area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be offered in Covington KY.
How to Choose a Barber College in Covington
Enroll in the Best Covington Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. 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 Covington Kentucky.