How to Choose the Right Barber College Near North Charleston South Carolina

Now that you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near North Charleston SC, the process begins to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be rather puzzled about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll discuss a bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your North Charleston residence. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating possible barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the right choice. There are various other qualifications that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine 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 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 Barbering Training Programs

Below is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your North Charleston SC home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your primary 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 options based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final determination.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber training program you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which often are not available in North Charleston SC for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Any barber school that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with North Charleston SC barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not looked into. And finally, 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 Specialty?  A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your desire is to start a barber shop in North Charleston SC, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and mastering barbering techniques and abilities demands lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber classes you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a North Charleston SC barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that she or he receives help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish aid maintain relationships with area businesses that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which North Charleston SC area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Offered?  Almost all barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn 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 accessible to students too. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications except for expense, do not omit it as an alternative before you learn what financial assistance may be offered in North Charleston SC.

How to Choose a Barber College in North Charleston

Enroll in the Best North Charleston Barber School

Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber college is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel certain about your decision. Make sure to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you choose are accredited and have excellent 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 right selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional barber in North Charleston South Carolina.

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