How to Enroll In the Best Barbering College Near Wilmington North Carolina
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Wilmington NC, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's important that the program you select not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may be a little bit unclear about the difference 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 bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Wilmington residence. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a 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 Barbering Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you should research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Wilmington NC residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial 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 decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Wilmington NC for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Wilmington NC barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the North Carolina school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select 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 Wilmington NC, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Wilmington NC barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance develop relationships with local employers that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Wilmington NC area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Wilmington NC.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Wilmington
Choose in the Best Wilmington Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber school is important to receive the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to launch your career as a professional barber in Wilmington North Carolina.
Wilmington Barbering Courses | Wilmington Barbering Colleges