What to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Hilton Head Island SC home, together with the cost of tuition, will probably be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue 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 should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in Hilton Head Island SC for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have an Excellent Reputation? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent 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, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Hilton Head Island SC barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the South Carolina 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? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in Hilton Head Island SC, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on volunteers. If a Hilton Head Island SC barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for acquiring your skills. Therefore look for other schools that provide this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that she or he receives help in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Hilton Head Island SC area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students also. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Hilton Head Island SC.