How to Choose the Best Barbering Training Near Dallas Texas
Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Dallas TX, the process starts to locate and enroll in the ideal school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only provides the proper instruction for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you begin your preliminary search, you may be rather confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a bit more about that in the next segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Dallas residence. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when reviewing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the ideal option. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are looking at 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?
Barbershops have always been a place for men to get their hair cut, socialize, and gab about everything from sports to stock tips. Although today some women visit barbershops and some men visit stylists and salons, the barbershop and its iconic red, white, and blue striped pole is still a cornerstone of male culture. If you’ve got an eye for style, a creative flair, and an appreciation for America’s unique barbershop culture, a career as a barber could be your calling. As a barber, you’ll cut, style, shape, and treat men’s hair, and sometimes women’s and children’s hair, too. You’ll give shaves and trim facial hair and sometimes perform neck and scalp massages. Like all specialists in the field of cosmetology, you’ll make a ritual out of maintaining your tools, station, and clients to the highest standards of hygiene and sanitization.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Below is a series of questions that you need to look into for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Dallas TX home, as well as the cost of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Dallas TX for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Dallas TX barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Texas 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? Some beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you pick a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your ambition is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Dallas TX, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Enough Live Training Provided? Practicing and mastering barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing skills on real people. If a Dallas TX barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the most effective option for acquiring your skills. So try to find other schools that offer this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives aid in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and inquire which Dallas TX area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only affirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with 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 available to students as well. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you determine what financial assistance may be provided in Dallas TX.
How to Choose a Barber College in Dallas
Enroll in the Right Dallas Barber School
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to get the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the institution and program you decide on are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to reduce 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 Dallas Texas.