How to Select the Best Barbering College Near South Kingstown Rhode Island

Now that you have made a decision to attend a barber school near South Kingstown RI, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's important that the program you choose not only provides the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be somewhat puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the following section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your South Kingstown home. Tuition will additionally be a critical consideration when reviewing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not necessarily the best choice. There are many other considerations that you should weigh when comparing 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 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.

What to Ask Barber Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your South Kingstown RI residence, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. 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 select 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 guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in South Kingstown RI for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in some 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 those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with South Kingstown RI barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the Rhode Island 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, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 ambition 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 South Kingstown RI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a South Kingstown RI barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for developing your skills. So try to find alternate schools that provide this kind 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 support in landing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which South Kingstown RI area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and find out 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 also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you learn what financial aid may be provided in South Kingstown RI.

How to Train in Barbering in South Kingstown

Enroll in the Right South Kingstown Barber College

Locating and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in South Kingstown Rhode Island.

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