How to Select the Right Barbering School Near Charleston South Carolina

Since you have decided to attend a barber school near Charleston SC, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you choose not only provides the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. 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 relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more concerning that in the next section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Charleston home. Tuition will also be an important consideration when assessing potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not automatically the best option. There are several other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, for instance their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering 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 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 Barber Schools

Below is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Charleston SC home, in addition to the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Charleston SC for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Confirm 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 connections with Charleston SC barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not thought of. And last, check with the South Carolina school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative 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 dream is to start a barber shop in Charleston SC, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Plenty of Live Training Provided?  Learning and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Charleston SC barber college offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on using mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he receives aid in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer assistance maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Charleston SC area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask 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 Assistance Available?  The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be provided in Charleston SC.

How to Train in Barbering in Charleston

Enroll in the Best Charleston Barber School

Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to get the appropriate training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that information to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be confident that you are qualified to begin your new career as a professional barber in Charleston South Carolina.

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