How to Choose the Best Barber School Near Chantilly Virginia
Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Chantilly VA, the process begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's important that the school you select not only furnishes the necessary education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you begin your initial 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 essentially interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll discuss a little bit more regarding that in the next section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Chantilly residence. Tuition will additionally be a critical factor when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not necessarily the best choice. There are many other qualifications 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 thinking about 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 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
Below is a series of questions that you will want to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have previously covered, the location of the school relative to your Chantilly VA residence, as well as the expense of tuition, will most likely be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to pursue a certificate, diploma or a degree will probably be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are additional factors that you should research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber school. Following we have collected some of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's essential to make certain that the barber college you pick 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 comply with their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be necessary for securing student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Chantilly 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, a number of businesses 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? Any barber college that you are seriously evaluating should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for references from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews along with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any relationships with Chantilly VA barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to suggest others that you had not thought of. And last, consult the Virginia school licensing authority to see if there have been any grievances submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many cosmetology schools offer programs that are broad in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for instance barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you pick a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your goal 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 desire is to launch a barber shop in Chantilly VA, then you need to enroll in a degree program that will instruct you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not provide the training you need.
Is Enough Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and perfecting barbering techniques and abilities requires plenty of practice on people. Ask 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 skills on volunteers. If a Chantilly VA barber college offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore search for other schools that furnish this kind of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's imperative that he or she gets assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that furnish help develop relationships with area employers that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and ask which Chantilly VA area shops and organizations they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Check if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and learn what student loans or grants you might get approved for. If the school is a member of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), it will have scholarships accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications with the exception of expense, do not eliminate it as an alternative before you determine what financial help may be offered in Chantilly VA.
How to Choose a Barber School in Chantilly
Enroll in the Right Chantilly Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber school is imperative to obtain the appropriate training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you require in order to feel positive about your decision. Be sure to organize all of the information you get from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then utilize that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the college and program you decide on are accredited and have excellent reputations within the profession. If you begin with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this article, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the ideal choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are prepared to begin your career as a professional barber in Chantilly Virginia.