How to Choose the Best Barber School Near Westfield New Jersey
Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Westfield NJ, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more regarding that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Westfield residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 Choose Barbering?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you should research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Westfield NJ home, together with the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 college. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school you pick 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Westfield NJ for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous 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 Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 sought after. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Westfield NJ barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, consult 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 broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Westfield NJ, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Westfield NJ barber college provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that he or she receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Westfield NJ area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be available in Westfield NJ.
How to Train in Barbering in Westfield
Choose in the Right Westfield Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the right barber college is important to obtain the proper 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. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Westfield New Jersey.