How to Find the Best Barber Course Near Scranton Pennsylvania
Since you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Scranton PA, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's important that the school you pick not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Scranton home. Tuition will likewise be an important aspect when reviewing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are a number of other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering is an art form, according to many, so it’s no surprise that individuals interested in becoming a barber must become authorities before they can command a barber’s chair. And one of the best and most effective ways to do so is through a comprehensive educational program. Since the early 1880s, barbering has been a tradition among men. Visiting the barber shop was often a weekly occasion, where a shave and a cut, and a little socialization among friends, were as popular as a trip to the local saloon. The barber experience still lives on, and many say it is even making a comeback as men realize the value of a great cut and a close shave. Today’s barbers must be able to deliver the highest quality services to their clients, services that cannot be found at a local mall hair salon or a unisex discount salon. Therefore, a solid education, complete with plenty of hands-on training, is a must. It is also a must for licensure, a requirement in every state. Although some states do recognize an apprenticeship as a route to licensure, all states recognize an accredited program.
Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Scranton PA residence, as well as the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those preliminary 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 selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber college you select 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Scranton PA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire 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 college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly sought after. Check rating companies for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Scranton PA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And last, 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 Focus? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive 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 often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you select a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Scranton PA, 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 weak program in barbering will not provide the training you require.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Scranton PA barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. Therefore try to find other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he gets assistance in finding that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer help maintain relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Scranton PA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out 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 Assistance Offered? Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial help may be offered in Scranton PA.
How to Become a Barber in Scranton
Choose in the Best Scranton Barber School
Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be 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 data to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in Scranton Pennsylvania.