How to Find the Right Barbering School Near Framingham Massachusetts

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Framingham MA, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Framingham home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering 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 Become a Barber?

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.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Framingham MA residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber training program 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Framingham MA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not employ 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 college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Framingham MA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, 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 looked into. And finally, contact the Massachusetts 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?  A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Framingham MA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Framingham MA barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective 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 support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Framingham MA area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad 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 looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be provided in Framingham MA.

How to Become a Barber in Framingham

Enroll in the Best Framingham Barber School

Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning 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 field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Framingham Massachusetts.

Framingham Barbering Training | Framingham College Of Barbering