How to Enroll In the Best Barber School Near Chapel Hill North Carolina
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Chapel Hill NC, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Chapel Hill residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when evaluating 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 several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a 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.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list 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 Chapel Hill NC residence, in addition to the expense of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Chapel Hill NC for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. 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 demanded. Visit rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Chapel Hill NC barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. Finally, contact the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 start a barber shop in Chapel Hill NC, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Chapel Hill NC barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives help in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Chapel Hill NC area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak 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 accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial help may be provided in Chapel Hill NC.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Chapel Hill
Choose in the Right Chapel Hill Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce 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 prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Chapel Hill North Carolina.
Chapel Hill Schools For Barbering | Chapel Hill Barber Schools