How to Find the Best Barbering College Near Blacksburg Virginia

Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Blacksburg VA, the task starts to find and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the program you select not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have chosen, but also readies you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the names are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more about that in the following section. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to find a school that is within driving distance of your Blacksburg home. Tuition will likewise be an important factor when evaluating possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the ideal choice. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will review what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are thinking about later in this article. Before we do, let's talk a 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 Barber Training Programs

Following is a list of questions that you should look into for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Blacksburg VA home, as well as the expense 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 options based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber training program you choose 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards guaranteeing a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be important for getting student loans or financial aid, which often are not obtainable in Blacksburg VA for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, many employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more favorably upon individuals with accredited training.

Does the School have an Excellent Reputation?  Every 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 businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, signifying that their students are highly sought after. Visit rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Blacksburg VA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the industry, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to suggest others that you had not looked into. And finally, check with the Virginia school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed 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 particular specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs often broaden into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Blacksburg VA, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach 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 Enough Hands-On Training Provided?  Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber classes you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Blacksburg VA barber college provides little or no scheduled live training, but rather relies mainly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that furnish this type of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber school, 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 furnish aid develop relationships with local businesses that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and find out which Blacksburg VA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, 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 respected as well.

Is Financial Assistance Offered?  Most barber schools provide financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Speak with a counselor and find out what student loans or grants you may 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 all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an option before you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Blacksburg VA.

How to Become a Barber in Blacksburg

Enroll in the Best Blacksburg Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the right barber training program is imperative to obtain the necessary training to become a licensed professional. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive about your decision. Make certain to consolidate 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 compare schools. A good start in your due diligence process is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have impressive reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and answer the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be confident that you are prepared to start your new career as a professional barber in Blacksburg Virginia.

Blacksburg Barbering Training | Blacksburg College Of Barbering