How to Select the Right Barbering School Near Drexel Hill Pennsylvania

Since you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Drexel Hill PA, the task begins to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's essential that the school you choose not only provides the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the contrast 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 type of school. We'll discuss 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 Drexel Hill home. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when evaluating possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at 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 Choose Barbering?

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.

Questions to Ask Barbering Schools

Below is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Drexel Hill PA home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you pick 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 comply with their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Drexel Hill PA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good 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 demanded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Drexel Hill PA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. 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 complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  A number of 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, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your goal is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your dream is to start a barber shop in Drexel Hill PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included 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 Drexel Hill PA barber college furnishes little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this kind 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 receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local businesses that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Drexel Hill PA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students as well. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be provided in Drexel Hill PA.

How to Choose a Barber College in Drexel Hill

Enroll in the Best Drexel Hill Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your career as a professional barber in Drexel Hill Pennsylvania.

Drexel Hill Barbering Colleges | Drexel Hill Schools For Barbering