Questions to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your El Reno OK home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have compiled several 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 sure that the barber training program you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in El Reno OK for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with El Reno OK barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, contact the Oklahoma school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full 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, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in El Reno OK, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a El Reno OK barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she receives help in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which El Reno OK area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial aid may be provided in El Reno OK.