How to Pick the Right Barber Course Near Flint Michigan
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Flint MI, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you select not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit puzzled about the distinction 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 talk a little bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Flint residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the best choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at 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?
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 Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Flint MI home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably 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 must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Flint MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers 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? Every 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 placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Flint MI barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Michigan 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 facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Flint 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 Any Live Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Flint MI barber college offers little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he gets assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Flint MI area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult 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 also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Flint MI.
How to Become a Barber in Flint
Enroll in the Right Flint Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Flint Michigan.