How to Pick the Best Barber Course Near Corvallis Oregon
Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Corvallis OR, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the appropriate instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be somewhat puzzled about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Corvallis home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review 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 Become a Barber?
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.
What to Ask Barbering Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Corvallis OR residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have put together 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 sure that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, 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 important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Corvallis OR 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 might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Corvallis OR barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, 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. And finally, consult the Oregon 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? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you enroll in a school that specializes in 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 respected for that program. If your vision is to start a barber shop in Corvallis OR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Corvallis OR barber school provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for developing your skills. Therefore search 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 school, it's imperative that he or she gets help in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Corvallis OR area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out 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 too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be available in Corvallis OR.
How to Become a Barber in Corvallis
Enroll in the Right Corvallis Barber School
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you pick are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Corvallis Oregon.