How to Pick the Best Barbering Academy Near Atlantic City New Jersey
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Atlantic City NJ, the process starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the distinction 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Atlantic City home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when evaluating possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering 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 Choose Barbering?
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 Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Atlantic City NJ home, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Atlantic City NJ for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers 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 industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Atlantic City NJ barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the New Jersey school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often 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 certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Atlantic City NJ, 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 deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Atlantic City NJ barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that he or she receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Atlantic City NJ area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult 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 also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial help may be available in Atlantic City NJ.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Atlantic City
Enroll in the Right Atlantic City Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Atlantic City New Jersey.
Atlantic City Barber Colleges | Atlantic City How To Become A Barber