How to Select the Right Barber Training Program Near Biddeford Maine
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Biddeford ME, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you may 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 basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Biddeford home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering 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?
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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Biddeford ME residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Biddeford ME for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement 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 might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional 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 placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Biddeford ME barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult the Maine school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty 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 broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to launch a barber shop in Biddeford ME, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Biddeford ME barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Biddeford ME area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided in Biddeford ME.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Biddeford
Choose in the Best Biddeford Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin 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 right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in Biddeford Maine.