How to Pick the Best Barbering Training Near Eastpointe Michigan

Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Eastpointe MI, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit puzzled about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Eastpointe residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as 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 discuss a 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

Below is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Eastpointe MI residence, as well as the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school 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 meet their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Eastpointe MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Eastpointe MI barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Michigan school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 start 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. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Eastpointe MI barber college offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Eastpointe MI area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided in Eastpointe MI.

How to Become a Barber in Eastpointe

Choose in the Right Eastpointe Barber School

Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional barber in Eastpointe Michigan.

Eastpointe Barbering Colleges | Eastpointe Schools For Barbering