How to Find the Best Barbering Academy Near Lubbock Texas
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Lubbock TX, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you may 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 essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the following section. If you plan on commuting to classes you will need to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Lubbock home. Tuition will likewise be an important consideration when evaluating prospective barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best choice. There are many other factors that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are considering later within 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 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.
Questions to Ask Barber Training Programs
Following is a series of questions that you should look into for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Lubbock TX home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you wish to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you should ask every school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber college you choose is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which typically are not available in Lubbock TX for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to excellent reputation within the industry. Being accredited is a good starting point. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews in addition to the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any connections with Lubbock TX barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the business, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Texas school licensing authority to see if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Focus? Many beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often expand 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 respected for that program. If your desire is to launch a barber shop in Lubbock TX, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Picking a highly regarded school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Any Live Training Provided? Practicing and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Check 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 developing talents on volunteers. If a Lubbock TX barber college provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it may not be the best option for cultivating your skills. So try to find other schools that provide 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 support in landing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with area employers that are seeking trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and inquire which Lubbock TX area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Available? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are considering have a financial aid office. Speak 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 accessible to students as well. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not eliminate it as an alternative until you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Lubbock TX.
How to Choose a Barber College in Lubbock
Enroll in the Best Lubbock Barber School
Locating and enrolling in the right barber school is important to get the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the information you receive from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then utilize that information to contrast schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the school and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions provided in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to launch your new career as a professional barber in Lubbock Texas.