How to Select the Best Barbering Course Near Oakdale Minnesota
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Oakdale MN, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial 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 essentially interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Oakdale home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Oakdale MN home, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial 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 decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you select is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Oakdale MN for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering 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, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Oakdale MN barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, 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 thought of. Finally, contact the Minnesota school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Oakdale MN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Oakdale MN barber college provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that he or she gets assistance in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Oakdale MN area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 offered to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered in Oakdale MN.
How to Choose a Barber School in Oakdale
Enroll in the Best Oakdale Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to contrast schools. A sensible start 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 start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Oakdale Minnesota.