How to Find the Best Barber Training Near Elizabethtown Kentucky

Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Elizabethtown KY, the task starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial 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 names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Elizabethtown home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later within 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 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.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Elizabethtown KY residence, together with the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Elizabethtown KY for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references 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 companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Elizabethtown KY barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Kentucky 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 Specialty?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example 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 focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Elizabethtown KY, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Elizabethtown KY barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Elizabethtown KY area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be available in Elizabethtown KY.

How to Become a Barber in Elizabethtown

Choose in the Right Elizabethtown Barber College

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided 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 confident that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Elizabethtown Kentucky.

Elizabethtown Barbering Schools | Elizabethtown Barber Academy