How to Choose the Right Barbering Classes Near Tualatin Oregon
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Tualatin OR, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit confused 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 relate to the same kind of school. We'll speak a little bit more regarding that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Tualatin home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in 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 can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
What to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Tualatin OR residence, together with the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly 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 reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should 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 meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Tualatin OR for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final 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 a Great Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Tualatin 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 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 full compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of cosmetology schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you pick 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Tualatin 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 provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Tualatin OR barber college offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for acquiring your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that she or he gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer help develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Tualatin OR area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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 Aid Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 available to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Tualatin OR.
How to Become a Barber in Tualatin
Enroll in the Best Tualatin Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain 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 use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Tualatin Oregon.