How to Select the Best Barbering Training Program Near Genoa Michigan
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Genoa MI, the process begins to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin 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 titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Genoa residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance 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 Choose Barbering?
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.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Genoa MI residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial 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 preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure 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 organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Genoa MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Genoa MI barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Michigan 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 Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Genoa MI, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Genoa MI barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that he or she gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Genoa MI area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, 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 Assistance Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might get approved 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 fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an option before you learn what financial aid may be provided in Genoa MI.
How to Train in Barbering in Genoa
Enroll in the Right Genoa Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to get the appropriate 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. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address 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 selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Genoa Michigan.