How to Pick the Right Barbering Training Near Arlington Massachusetts
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Arlington MA, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be rather unclear 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Arlington home. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 Choose Barbering?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Arlington MA home, together with the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school you pick 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Arlington MA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Arlington MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And last, contact the Massachusetts school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Arlington MA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Arlington MA barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. So look for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance develop relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Arlington MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High 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 looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial help may be provided in Arlington MA.
How to Become a Barber in Arlington
Enroll in the Best Arlington Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional barber in Arlington Massachusetts.