How to Select the Right Barber School Near Radnor Pennsylvania
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Radnor PA, the task starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the school you pick not only provides the necessary instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Radnor residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best option. There are several other considerations that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering 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?
A barber is a professional who cuts, trims, and styles hair for primarily male clients, though many women with shorter hairstyles opt to go to these professionals too. Most barbers also provide facial hair maintenance, custom shaves and other men's grooming services. The goal of a barber is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease while their hair is being cut or styled. The barber also seeks to ensure that the client is happy with his or her hairstyle, length and color or his new facial hair style. They usually use tools such as scissors, clippers, razors, and combs Barbers may also provide other services such as applying lotions, shampooing, styling, coloring hair, and singeing. In addition, a barber may perform massage services for the scalp, neck, and face. Finally, barbers will typically bill the client, accept payment and tips and finalize the sale. They may also sell the client products such as shampoo, lotions, or tonics that will meet their styling, grooming and maintenance needs between appointments. They will clean their work area and tools according to the state's safety and sanitation requirements after each appointment.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Radnor PA residence, in addition to the cost of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have compiled some of those supplemental questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber school you pick 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Radnor PA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of 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 exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Radnor PA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your vision is to open a barber shop in Radnor PA, then you want 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 Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Radnor PA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives assistance in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with local employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Radnor PA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of 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 cost, do not omit it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be available in Radnor PA.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Radnor
Enroll in the Best Radnor Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the ideal barber school is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel positive about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Radnor Pennsylvania.