How to Choose the Right Barber Training Near Alexandria Virginia
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Alexandria VA, the process starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's essential that the school you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have chosen, but also prepares you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your initial search, you may be somewhat 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 refer to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a bit more concerning that in the following segment. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Alexandria residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when assessing possible barber schools. Just remember that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the ideal choice. There are many other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later in this article. Before we do, let's discuss a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
Barbering can be considered a subspecialty in the larger field of cosmetology. While cosmetologists train to work in hair, nails, skin, makeup, and overall beauty enhancement, barbers focus on cutting hair, almost exclusively men’s hair, and giving shaves and trimming facial hair. They might learn specialized techniques such as coloring and permanent waving like cosmetologists do, but it’s not essential. Barbers and cosmetologists also earn different licenses that specify which services they can legally perform. The first step to becoming a barber is to complete a barbering program. You might choose to enroll in a dedicated barber school or sign up for a barbering program in a cosmetology school that offers barbering as a specialty. Because states have different requirements for training and licensure, it is important to start by checking with your state cosmetology board.
What to Ask Barber Colleges
Below is a list of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber college you are contemplating. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Alexandria VA home, together with the expense of tuition, will most likely be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Following we have compiled several of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential to make sure that the barber training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Alexandria VA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many employers will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon those with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Each barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the field. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of employers where they have placed their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly demanded. Check rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any relationships with Alexandria VA barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Virginia 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? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically 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 certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and well regarded 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 teach you how to be an owner/operator. Choosing a highly ranked school with a weak program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering skills and techniques requires lots of practice on people. Find out how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. Some schools have shops on site that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Alexandria VA barber school furnishes minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies mainly on using mannequins, it may not be the most effective alternative for acquiring your skills. So search for other schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber college, it's crucial that she or he gets support in landing that initial job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that provide help maintain relationships with area businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and find out which Alexandria VA area shops and businesses they refer students to. Additionally, find out 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 Offered? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may qualify 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 all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be provided in Alexandria VA.
How to Become a Barber in Alexandria
Enroll in the Best Alexandria Barber College
Selecting and enrolling in the right barber school is essential to get the necessary training to become a licensed technician. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel confident about your decision. Be sure to compile all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that data to compare schools. A good start in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you select are accredited and have impressive 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 proper selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to start your career as a professional barber in Alexandria Virginia.
Alexandria Barber Colleges | Alexandria How To Become A Barber