How to Select the Best Barbering Classes Near Saint Louis Park Minnesota
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Saint Louis Park MN, the task starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial 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 relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Saint Louis Park residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not always the right choice. There are several other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later in 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 Choose Barbering?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Saint Louis Park MN residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first 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 school. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber college 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Saint Louis Park MN for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Saint Louis Park MN barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Minnesota school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 objective 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 aspiration is to start a barber shop in Saint Louis Park MN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Saint Louis Park MN barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he gets assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Saint Louis Park MN area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may 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 all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not omit it as an option before you find out what financial help may be available in Saint Louis Park MN.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Saint Louis Park
Enroll in the Best Saint Louis Park Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Saint Louis Park Minnesota.
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