How to Find the Right Barbering Academy Near Yonkers New York
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Yonkers NY, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the program you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Yonkers home. Tuition will additionally be a critical aspect when assessing possible barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the right choice. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding 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?
A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.
Questions to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Yonkers NY home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to 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 each 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 agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Yonkers NY for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Yonkers NY barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the New York school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? 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 particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in Yonkers NY, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Yonkers NY barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Yonkers NY area shops and establishments they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have wide 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 looking at have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 available to students also. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be available in Yonkers NY.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Yonkers
Choose in the Right Yonkers Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber college is important to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, 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 right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Yonkers New York.