How to Enroll In the Right Barbering Training Program Near Bartlett Tennessee
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Bartlett TN, the process starts to locate and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you select not only furnishes the proper training for the specialty you have chosen, but also preps you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your initial search, you might be a little bit unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll speak a bit more concerning that in the next section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Bartlett home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are a number of other qualifications that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are thinking about later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a little bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering, which is as old as America itself, is certainly a career steeped in tradition. Many of today’s barbers use the same equipment or tools, practice the same techniques, and retain the atmosphere of barber shops of long ago. In fact, not much has changed in barbering, as this profession is considered an art form that requires skill, training, a steady hand, and a sharp eye. As a barber, you get to specialize in the cutting, trimming, and styling of hair, mustaches, and beards. Barbers are the specialists in masculine style, providing facial, shaving, and hair-cutting services to men. The barber career choice has also seen a recent resurgence or rise in popularity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of barbers is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. If you’re passionate about beginning a career in the barber industry and are ready to blaze a path in this booming industry, then entering this particular field does require you to obtain specialized schooling.
What to Ask Barbering Schools
Following is a series of questions that you will want to research for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Bartlett TN home, as well as the price of tuition, will probably be your first 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 initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should 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 select 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 measure up to their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Bartlett TN 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 school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Confirm that the schools have high job placement rates, attesting that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Bartlett TN barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. Finally, check with the Tennessee school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that focuses on 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 respected for that program. If your aspiration is to open a barber shop in Bartlett TN, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly rated school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques involves lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Bartlett TN barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So try to find alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets aid in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish aid develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Bartlett TN area shops and establishments they refer students to. Also, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Almost all barber schools offer 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 as well. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Bartlett TN.
How to Choose a Barber College in Bartlett
Enroll in the Best Bartlett Barber College
Picking and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is important to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Make sure to collect all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you select are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your career as a professional barber in Bartlett Tennessee.