How to Pick the Right Barber School Near Rapid City South Dakota

Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Rapid City SD, the process begins to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the program you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you might be rather unclear 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 pertain to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Rapid City home. Tuition will additionally be an important factor when assessing potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal option. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example 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 talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.

Why Become a Barber?

Hairstyles are increasingly being considered by people to be a projection of their personalities.  As a result, barbers are still very much in demand. However, most people are looking for trained professionals and will not just drop in on any local barber shop displaying a red, white and blue pole. Training to become a barber is a career move that offers many benefits for those that are both artistic and sociable.  The artistic side is indulged by creating a plethora of different and sometimes challenging hairstyles. The social aspect obviously comes into play by keeping the customer engaged while creating your masterpiece. In fact, some barbers are so proud of their artistic accomplishments that they will take photos of their finished hairstyles and post them on their websites as a portfolio to attract new clients.  And barbering lends itself to a more intimate form of customer service by providing time with the client while cutting his (or her) hair.  This time spent together can lead to the development of a rapport or even a new friendship. As a result, many customers come back not only because they are pleased with the service, but also to enjoy the social amenities that their neighborhood barbershop can offer.

Questions to Ask Barber Schools

Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Rapid City SD residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will most likely be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential 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 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 quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not obtainable in Rapid City SD for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed 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 relationships with Rapid City SD barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not considered. Finally, consult the South Dakota 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?  Some cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective is to be trained as a barber, make sure that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Rapid City SD, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Rapid City SD barber school furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best option for cultivating your skills. Therefore try to find alternate schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  As soon as a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets help in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area employers that are looking for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Rapid City SD area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid department. Consult with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you may qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships available to students too. If a school satisfies all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not discard it as an option until you learn what financial help may be available in Rapid City SD.

How to Become a Barber in Rapid City

Choose in the Best Rapid City Barber School

Finding and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize 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 school and program you pick are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your new career as a professional barber in Rapid City South Dakota.

Rapid City Barbering Training | Rapid City College Of Barbering