How to Find the Right Barbering School Near Bethel Park Pennsylvania

Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Bethel Park PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary training for the specialty you have decided on, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary 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 names are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bethel Park home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the right option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over 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 Barber Schools

Below is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bethel Park PA residence, together with 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 need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together several of those additional questions that you need to ask every school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College 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 acknowledged local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Bethel Park PA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses 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?  Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Bethel Park PA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Bethel Park PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided?  Practicing and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Bethel Park PA barber school furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on the use of mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he gets support in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with local employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Bethel Park PA area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be available in Bethel Park PA.

How to Train in Barbering in Bethel Park

Choose in the Right Bethel Park Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to receive the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to consolidate all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Bethel Park Pennsylvania.

Bethel Park Barbering Training | Bethel Park College Of Barbering