How to Select the Best Barber College Near Newport Rhode Island
Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Newport RI, the process starts to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you pick not only provides the necessary training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be rather unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Newport home. Tuition will likewise be a critical aspect when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the best choice. There are various other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering 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 Choose Barbering?
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 Barber Colleges
Following is a list of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Newport RI home, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Newport RI for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. 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, attesting that their students are highly regarded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Newport RI barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, consult the Rhode Island school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick 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 vision is to open a barber shop in Newport RI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Hands-On Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Newport RI barber college furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but rather relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's essential that he or she gets support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Newport RI area shops and establishments they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Talk to 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial aid may be provided in Newport RI.
How to Train to Be a Barber in Newport
Choose in the Right Newport Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this post, 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 confident that you are prepared to begin your new career as a professional barber in Newport Rhode Island.