How to Select the Right Barbering Classes Near Slidell Louisiana
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Slidell LA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be a little bit 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 pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Slidell home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the best option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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 Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you should research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Slidell LA residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
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 certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Slidell LA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Slidell LA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Louisiana school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 decide on 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Slidell LA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Slidell LA barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with local employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Slidell LA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult 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 also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be available in Slidell LA.
How to Choose a Barber School in Slidell
Enroll in the Best Slidell Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Slidell Louisiana.