How to Choose the Right Barbering College Near Roseburg Oregon
Once you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Roseburg OR, the process starts to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you pick not only furnishes the proper 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 a little bit unclear about the distinction 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 talk a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Roseburg residence. Tuition will also be an important factor when reviewing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a 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 Barbering Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Roseburg OR residence, as well as the cost of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Roseburg OR for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in some 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 positively upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Roseburg OR barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And last, check with the Oregon school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in full compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to open a barber shop in Roseburg OR, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and refining barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Roseburg OR barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look 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 imperative that she or he receives help in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Roseburg OR area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are looking at 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 satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not omit it as an option before you learn what financial help may be offered in Roseburg OR.
How to Choose a Barber College in Roseburg
Choose in the Best Roseburg Barber College
Finding 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 organize all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the college and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce 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 ready to launch your new career as a professional barber in Roseburg Oregon.