How to Pick the Right Barbering Academy Near West Linn Oregon
Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near West Linn OR, the process begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you pick not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial search, you may be a little bit confused about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more regarding that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your West Linn residence. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not automatically the best option. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within 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?
Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities. As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable. The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients. And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair. This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.
Questions to Ask Barbering Schools
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your West Linn OR residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options 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 supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College 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 recognized 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 guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in West Linn OR for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating 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 referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with West Linn OR barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Oregon school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in West Linn OR, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct 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 Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering skills and techniques involves plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a West Linn OR barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives aid in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which West Linn OR area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an option until you determine what financial assistance may be provided in West Linn OR.
How to Train to Be a Barber in West Linn
Enroll in the Best West Linn Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the right barber college is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your career as a professional barber in West Linn Oregon.