How to Pick the Best Barber College Near Ballwin Missouri
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Ballwin MO, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit 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 pertain to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the upcoming section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Ballwin home. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the best option. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as 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 Become a Barber?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Ballwin MO residence, together with the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school you choose 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Ballwin MO for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Ballwin MO barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the Missouri school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances 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, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Ballwin MO, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Ballwin MO barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Ballwin MO area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out 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? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be provided in Ballwin MO.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Ballwin
Enroll in the Right Ballwin Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize 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 certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented 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 exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Ballwin Missouri.