How to Select the Right Barber Training Program Near Harrison New York
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Harrison NY, the process begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning 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 Harrison home. Tuition will also be an important factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at 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 Become a Barber?
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.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Harrison NY residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Harrison NY for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Harrison NY barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, consult the New York school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically broaden 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 objective 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 launch a barber shop in Harrison NY, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Harrison NY barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Harrison NY area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 offered to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Harrison NY.
How to Choose a Barber School in Harrison
Enroll in the Right Harrison Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, 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 begin your new career as a professional barber in Harrison New York.