How to Find the Best Barbering School Near Beaverton Oregon
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Beaverton OR, the task starts to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the following segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Beaverton home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the right choice. There are many other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later within 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 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 list of questions that you should research for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school in relation to your Beaverton OR residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber school you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Beaverton OR for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several 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 positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Beaverton OR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Oregon school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Beaverton OR, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves plenty of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their growing skills on real people. If a Beaverton OR barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Beaverton OR area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, 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 regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? 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. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students also. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided in Beaverton OR.
How to Choose a Barber School in Beaverton
Enroll in the Right Beaverton Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Beaverton Oregon.
Beaverton Barbering Training | Beaverton College Of Barbering