How to Select the Right Barbering College Near Greenbelt Maryland
Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Greenbelt MD, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary 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 unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Greenbelt home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the right option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 Choose Barbering?
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 Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Greenbelt MD 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 no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Greenbelt MD for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Greenbelt MD barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, 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 considered. And last, contact the Maryland school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 Greenbelt MD, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Greenbelt MD barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Greenbelt MD area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be provided in Greenbelt MD.
How to Choose a Barber School in Greenbelt
Choose in the Right Greenbelt Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, 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 prepared to start your career as a professional barber in Greenbelt Maryland.