How to Pick the Best Barbering School Near Trotwood Ohio
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Trotwood OH, the task begins to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Trotwood home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Trotwood OH home, as well as the expense of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you select 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Trotwood OH for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Trotwood OH 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 thought of. And finally, consult the Ohio school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden 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 goal 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 Trotwood OH, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Trotwood OH barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So search for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Trotwood OH area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 available to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not discard it as an alternative before you find out what financial aid may be available in Trotwood OH.
How to Choose a Barber College in Trotwood
Choose in the Right Trotwood Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Trotwood Ohio.