How to Choose the Right Barber Training Program Near Columbus Ohio
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Columbus OH, the task starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat confused about the contrast 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more concerning that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Columbus home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when reviewing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at 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, 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 Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Columbus OH home, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Columbus OH for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria 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 favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers 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 as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Columbus OH barber shop owners or managers, or someone 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. And finally, contact the Ohio school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing 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 pick 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 open a barber shop in Columbus OH, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Columbus OH barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's crucial that she or he gets support in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Columbus OH area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? 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. Speak 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 as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Columbus OH.
How to Train in Barbering in Columbus
Choose in the Best Columbus Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber training program is important to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional barber in Columbus Ohio.