What to Ask Barber Schools
Following is a series of questions that you need to research for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Bellevue WA home, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will no doubt be next on your list. But once you have reduced your school choices based on those preliminary qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and consider before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final decision.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's necessary to make certain that the barber school 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must measure up to their high standards assuring a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which often are not offered in Bellevue WA for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, many businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Any 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 testimonials from their network of businesses where they have placed their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Bellevue WA barber shop owners or managers, or anyone working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are considering. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not considered. Finally, contact the Washington 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 broad in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs frequently expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's imperative that you decide on a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your ambition 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 start a barber shop in Bellevue WA, then you want 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 require.
Is Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and mastering barbering skills and techniques demands lots of practice on volunteers. Find out how much live, hands-on training is furnished in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on campus that allow students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Bellevue WA barber college furnishes limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends mainly on the use of mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for alternate schools that furnish this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? As soon as a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he gets support 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 trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and ask which Bellevue WA area shops and businesses they refer students to. In addition, 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. Find out if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office. Consult with a counselor and identify 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 also. If a school meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you determine what financial assistance may be available in Bellevue WA.