How to Pick the Best Barbering School Near Kentwood Michigan
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Kentwood MI, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you select not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the contrast 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll talk a 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 Kentwood home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the right option. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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 Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Kentwood MI home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably 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 narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you pick 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Kentwood 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, many 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 Good Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Kentwood MI barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on 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 aspiration is to launch a barber shop in Kentwood 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 poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Kentwood MI barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Kentwood MI area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, 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 Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Kentwood MI.
How to Choose a Barber College in Kentwood
Choose in the Right Kentwood Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Make sure 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 data to contrast schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented 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 test, you will be confident that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Kentwood Michigan.