How to Pick the Right Barber College Near Kent Ohio
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Kent OH, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Kent home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are several other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning 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 Choose Barbering?
A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Kent OH home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Kent OH for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria 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 may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements 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 regarded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Kent OH barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. Finally, consult the Ohio school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 launch a barber shop in Kent OH, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Kent OH barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that she or he receives support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Kent OH area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive 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 considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an alternative until you learn what financial aid may be available in Kent OH.
How to Choose a Barber College in Kent
Choose in the Best Kent Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, 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 ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Kent Ohio.