How to Enroll In the Right Barber College Near Fort Worth Texas

Now that you have decided to enroll in a barber school near Fort Worth TX, the task begins to find and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you choose not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you may be somewhat 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 kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the upcoming section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Fort Worth residence. Tuition will also be a critical consideration when assessing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the ideal choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little 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.

Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already discussed, the location of the school relative to your Fort Worth TX residence, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Following we have put together some of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber school you enroll in is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national agency, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Fort Worth TX for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the profession. Being accredited is an excellent beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Fort Worth TX barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And last, consult the Texas school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.

What’s the School’s Specialty?  Many beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you select a school that specializes in 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Fort Worth TX, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not deliver the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering skills and techniques demands 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 site that enable students to practice their developing skills on volunteers. If a Fort Worth TX barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on the use of mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for developing your skills. So look for other schools that offer 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 receives assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid maintain relationships with local businesses that are seeking qualified graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Fort Worth TX area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only confirm that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Available?  Almost all barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and identify what student loans or grants you might qualify for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students too. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not discard it as an option before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Fort Worth TX.

How to Become a Barber in Fort Worth

Choose in the Best Fort Worth Barber School

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber college is important to receive the proper training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then use that data to contrast schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your career as a professional barber in Fort Worth Texas.

Fort Worth Barbering Colleges | Fort Worth Schools For Barbering