How to Select the Right Barbering School Near Lincoln Park Michigan

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Lincoln Park MI, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Lincoln Park home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when reviewing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the best choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering 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?

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 Training Programs

Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Lincoln Park MI residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Lincoln Park MI for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 sought after. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Lincoln Park MI barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the Michigan school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Lincoln Park MI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out 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 allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Lincoln Park MI barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for developing your skills. So look for other schools that provide this kind of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he gets support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Lincoln Park MI area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial assistance may be available in Lincoln Park MI.

How to Choose a Barber College in Lincoln Park

Enroll in the Right Lincoln Park Barber School

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Lincoln Park Michigan.

Lincoln Park Barber Academy | Lincoln Park Barbering Courses