How to Enroll In the Right Barbering Training Program Near Jamaica Plain Massachusetts

Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Jamaica Plain MA, the task starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Jamaica Plain residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not always the ideal option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.

Why Become a Barber?

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.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Jamaica Plain MA home, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Jamaica Plain MA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Any barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Jamaica Plain MA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone 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 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 complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 dream is to start a barber shop in Jamaica Plain 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 poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out 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 allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Jamaica Plain MA barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Jamaica Plain MA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask 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 belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Jamaica Plain MA.

How to Choose a Barber School in Jamaica Plain

Enroll in the Right Jamaica Plain Barber College

Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional barber in Jamaica Plain Massachusetts.

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