How to Find the Right Barber College Near Covington Kentucky
Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Covington KY, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Covington home. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when evaluating potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later in 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?
The majority of today’s barbers no doubt were inspired to explore this profession because of their own sense of style coupled with fond memories of visiting their local barber shop. For those considering this career, several trips to the barber is most definitely in order. Taking in the atmosphere, the clientele, and the work is one of the best ways to become familiar with how a barber’s day is spent. A barber is a professional who specializes in cutting and styling men’s hair and caring for men’s facial hair, skin, and scalps. Of course they are primarily employed in barbershops, although a number of high-end hotels and spas now employ barbers full-time to serve traveling businessmen. To be successful, individuals should be friendly and outgoing, and they should enjoy meeting new people and spending the better part of their day socializing with the clients they serve. Those interested in barbering should be prepared to spend the majority of the day on their feet and working with their hands. Barbers usually enjoy flexible schedules, relaxed working environments, and a solid income once they establish a regular clientele.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Covington KY home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Covington KY for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Covington KY barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Kentucky school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Covington KY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished 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 growing skills on real people. If a Covington KY barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that he or she receives aid in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Covington KY area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be provided in Covington KY.
How to Become a Barber in Covington
Choose in the Best Covington Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is important to obtain the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Covington Kentucky.