How to Find the Right Barbering School Near Hattiesburg Mississippi
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Hattiesburg MS, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you select not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Hattiesburg home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the right option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about 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.
Questions to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Hattiesburg MS residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Hattiesburg MS for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Hattiesburg MS barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Mississippi 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 Focus? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 launch a barber shop in Hattiesburg MS, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Hattiesburg MS barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he gets aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Hattiesburg MS area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be provided in Hattiesburg MS.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Hattiesburg
Enroll in the Right Hattiesburg Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Hattiesburg Mississippi.
Hattiesburg Barbering Training | Hattiesburg College Of Barbering