How to Select the Right Barbering Academy Near Bowie Maryland
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Bowie MD, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Bowie residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bowie MD residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn 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 consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you enroll in 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Bowie MD for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Bowie MD barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the Maryland 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 Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in 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 aspiration is to open a barber shop in Bowie MD, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves plenty 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 developing skills on volunteers. If a Bowie MD barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he receives help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Bowie MD area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be available in Bowie MD.
How to Train in Barbering in Bowie
Enroll in the Right Bowie Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Bowie Maryland.