How to Choose the Right Barbering College Near Alexandria Virginia

Once you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Alexandria VA, the task begins to find and enroll in the ideal school. It's important that the program you select not only furnishes the proper instruction for the specialty you have selected, but also prepares you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your preliminary search, you might be rather confused about the difference 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 refer to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you plan on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Alexandria home. Tuition will likewise be a critical factor when assessing prospective barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the cheapest it's not always the right option. There are various other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are looking at later in 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 Choose Barbering?

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 Schools

Following is a list of questions that you will want to look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school relative to your Alexandria VA home, together with the price of tuition, will probably be your primary qualifiers. Whether you would like to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have put together several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask each school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's necessary to make sure that the barber college you enroll in 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 comply with their high standards ensuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which typically are not offered in Alexandria VA for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have a Great Reputation?  Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to excellent reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Alexandria VA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And finally, check with the Virginia 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 Specialty?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad 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 commonly broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your intention 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 open a barber shop in Alexandria VA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you require.

Is Any Hands-On Training Provided?  Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing skills on volunteers. If a Alexandria VA barber school provides limited or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for alternate schools that provide this type of training.

Does the School Provide Job Assistance?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's imperative that she or he receives aid in finding that very first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with local employers that are looking for qualified graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Alexandria VA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, 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?  Many barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school belongs to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships offered to students too. If a school fulfills each of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial aid may be offered in Alexandria VA.

How to Become a Barber in Alexandria

Choose in the Right Alexandria Barber School

Choosing and enrolling in the right barber training program is essential to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Don't forget to consolidate 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 compare schools. A reasonable start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer 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 examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to launch your new career as a professional barber in Alexandria Virginia.

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