Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Livingston NJ home, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Livingston NJ for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Livingston NJ barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the New Jersey school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in Livingston NJ, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Livingston NJ barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets support in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Livingston NJ area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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? Many 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 department. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Livingston NJ.