How to Select the Best Barber Training Near Exeter Pennsylvania
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Exeter PA, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be somewhat puzzled 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Exeter home. Tuition will additionally be an important aspect when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about 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 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 Barber Schools
Below is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Exeter PA home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, 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 superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Exeter 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, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably 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 excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Exeter PA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Pennsylvania 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 Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 Exeter PA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Exeter PA barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he gets help in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid develop relationships with local employers that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Exeter PA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide 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. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and learn 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not drop it as an alternative until you learn what financial assistance may be offered in Exeter PA.
How to Choose a Barber College in Exeter
Enroll in the Best Exeter Barber School
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are ready to begin your career as a professional barber in Exeter Pennsylvania.