How to Choose the Best Barbering Course Near Lakewood New Jersey
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Lakewood NJ, the process starts to find and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when assessing potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood NJ residence, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Lakewood NJ 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 employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lakewood NJ barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, check with the New Jersey school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose 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 dream is to launch a barber shop in Lakewood NJ, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques demands 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 enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Lakewood NJ barber college provides limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives assistance in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Lakewood NJ area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out 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? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved 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 fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial help may be available in Lakewood NJ.
How to Train in Barbering in Lakewood
Enroll in the Right Lakewood Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber training program is imperative to get the appropriate 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 sure to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, 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 ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Lakewood New Jersey.