How to Choose the Best Barber Academy Near Lakewood Ohio
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Lakewood OH, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the program you select not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused 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 discuss a little bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Lakewood home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not automatically the right option. There are several other factors that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Choose Barbering?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
What to Ask Barber Training Programs
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lakewood OH residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Lakewood OH for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials 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 demanded. Check rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Lakewood OH barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Ohio 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 Specialty? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive 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 frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Lakewood OH, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Lakewood OH barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing 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 he or she receives assistance in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with local employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Lakewood OH area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students also. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Lakewood OH.
How to Train in Barbering in Lakewood
Choose in the Right Lakewood Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to receive the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to filter 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 qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Lakewood Ohio.