What to Ask Barber Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Austintown OH home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Austintown OH for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably 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 outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Austintown OH barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Ohio school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 goal is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Austintown OH, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Austintown OH barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she receives aid in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Austintown OH area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an alternative until you determine what financial help may be offered in Austintown OH.