How to Choose the Right Barber Academy Near Hazelwood Missouri
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Hazelwood MO, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best 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 exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding 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 Hazelwood residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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 Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Hazelwood MO residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College 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 acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Hazelwood MO for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit 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 profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses 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 along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Hazelwood MO barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Missouri 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 Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on 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 aspiration is to open a barber shop in Hazelwood MO, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Hazelwood MO barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she receives support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Hazelwood MO area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be provided in Hazelwood MO.
How to Choose a Barber School in Hazelwood
Enroll in the Right Hazelwood Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to get the appropriate 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. Be sure to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the college and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Hazelwood Missouri.