How to Pick the Right Barbering School Near Kentwood Michigan
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Kentwood MI, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the school you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be somewhat unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll talk a bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Kentwood residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance 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 discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Kentwood MI home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College 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 recognized 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 ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Kentwood MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Kentwood MI barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult 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 Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 launch a barber shop in Kentwood MI, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands 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 campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Kentwood MI barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he receives assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Kentwood MI area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be provided in Kentwood MI.
How to Train in Barbering in Kentwood
Enroll in the Best Kentwood Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as 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 institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, 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 confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Kentwood Michigan.