How to Pick the Right Barbering School Near Raleigh North Carolina
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Raleigh NC, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Raleigh home. Tuition will also be a critical factor when evaluating possible barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later in 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, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
Questions to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Raleigh NC home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged 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 ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Raleigh NC for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Raleigh NC barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the North Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas 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 important 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 vision is to open a barber shop in Raleigh NC, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Raleigh NC barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Raleigh NC area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial help may be available in Raleigh NC.
How to Become a Barber in Raleigh
Enroll in the Best Raleigh Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible 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 address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Raleigh North Carolina.