How to Select the Best Barbering Academy Near White Oak Maryland
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near White Oak MD, the process begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast 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 speak a bit more about that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your White Oak home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the best option. There are many other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your White Oak MD home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in White Oak MD for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with White Oak MD barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Maryland school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important 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 well regarded for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in White Oak MD, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a White Oak MD barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he receives aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which White Oak MD area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided in White Oak MD.
How to Choose a Barber School in White Oak
Enroll in the Right White Oak Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in White Oak Maryland.