How to Enroll In the Best Barber School Near Stillwater Oklahoma
Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Stillwater OK, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be rather unclear about the contrast 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 kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Stillwater home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at 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 Become a Barber?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Below is a series of questions that you should investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Stillwater OK home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt 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 should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school you select 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Stillwater OK for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references 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 sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Stillwater OK barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, consult the Oklahoma school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Stillwater OK, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Stillwater OK barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he gets aid in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local employers that are searching for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Stillwater OK area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with 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 as well. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Stillwater OK.
How to Train in Barbering in Stillwater
Choose in the Right Stillwater Barber College
Choosing 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 so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right 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 Stillwater Oklahoma.