How to Choose the Right Barber Course Near Boston Massachusetts
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Boston MA, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather puzzled 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Boston residence. Tuition will also be an important consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
The majority of today’s barbers no doubt were inspired to explore this profession because of their own sense of style coupled with fond memories of visiting their local barber shop. For those considering this career, several trips to the barber is most definitely in order. Taking in the atmosphere, the clientele, and the work is one of the best ways to become familiar with how a barber’s day is spent. A barber is a professional who specializes in cutting and styling men’s hair and caring for men’s facial hair, skin, and scalps. Of course they are primarily employed in barbershops, although a number of high-end hotels and spas now employ barbers full-time to serve traveling businessmen. To be successful, individuals should be friendly and outgoing, and they should enjoy meeting new people and spending the better part of their day socializing with the clients they serve. Those interested in barbering should be prepared to spend the majority of the day on their feet and working with their hands. Barbers usually enjoy flexible schedules, relaxed working environments, and a solid income once they establish a regular clientele.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Boston MA residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely 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 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. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Boston MA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous 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 Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent 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 together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Boston MA 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 propose others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Massachusetts school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Boston MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Boston MA barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Boston MA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Boston MA.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Boston
Enroll in the Best Boston Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure 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 foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, 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 begin your new career as a professional barber in Boston Massachusetts.