How to Choose the Best Barbering Training Program Near Eastpointe Michigan
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Eastpointe MI, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the difference 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 type of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Eastpointe residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best option. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within 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?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Eastpointe MI residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Eastpointe MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Eastpointe MI barber shop owners or managers, or any person 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 last, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific 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 focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to launch a barber shop in Eastpointe MI, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Eastpointe MI barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Eastpointe MI area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many 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 office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Eastpointe MI.
How to Become a Barber in Eastpointe
Choose in the Right Eastpointe Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional barber in Eastpointe Michigan.