How to Choose the Best Barbering Course Near Edmond Oklahoma
Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Edmond OK, the process begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be rather unclear about the difference 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 speak a bit more about that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Edmond home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not always the right option. There are various other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within 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 Choose Barbering?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
Questions to Ask Barbering Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Edmond OK residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices 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 compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized 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 assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Edmond OK for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent 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, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Edmond OK barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, 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 last, contact the Oklahoma 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? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you select a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention 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 dream is to start a barber shop in Edmond OK, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Edmond OK barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that he or she receives help in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide assistance maintain relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Edmond OK area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school is a member of 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 omit it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided in Edmond OK.
How to Train in Barbering in Edmond
Choose in the Right Edmond Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to get the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to organize all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Edmond Oklahoma.