How to Select the Best Barber Training Program Near Middleton Wisconsin

Now that you have decided to attend a barber school near Middleton WI, the task begins to search for and enroll in the best school. It's imperative that the school you choose not only provides the proper education for the specialty you have selected, but also readies you for passing the licensing exam. When you start your initial search, you might be somewhat unclear about the difference between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are basically interchangeable and both pertain to the same type of school. We'll talk a little bit more concerning that in the next segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to choose a school that is within driving distance of your Middleton residence. Tuition will also be an important aspect when evaluating possible barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the least expensive it's not always the ideal option. There are a number of other considerations that you should evaluate when analyzing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are considering later within 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?

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.

Questions to Ask Barbering Colleges

Below is a series of questions that you need to investigate for any barber college you are considering. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Middleton WI home, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably 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 reduced your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you must research and consider before enrolling in a barber school. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you should ask every school before making a final selection.

Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber school you enroll in 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 measure up to their high standards guaranteeing a quality curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be important for obtaining student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not offered in Middleton WI for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in some states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, a number of employers will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon those with accredited training.

Does the School have a Good Reputation?  Every barber college that you are seriously considering should have a good to outstanding reputation within the profession. Being accredited is a good beginning. Next, ask the schools for testimonials from their network of employers where they have referred their students. Verify that the schools have high job placement rates, showing that their students are highly demanded. Visit rating companies for reviews as well as the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any contacts with Middleton WI barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not considered. And finally, check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there have been any grievances filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

What’s the School’s Focus?  Some beauty schools offer programs that are broad in nature, concentrating on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's essential that you decide on a school that specializes in your area of interest. Since your intention is to be trained as a barber, make certain that the school you enroll in is accredited and respected for that program. If your aspiration is to start a barber shop in Middleton WI, 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 require.

Is Enough Live Training Provided?  Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities demands plenty of practice on volunteers. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided 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 Middleton WI barber school provides minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on the use of mannequins, it might not be the most effective option for cultivating your skills. So look for other schools that offer this kind of training.

Does the School have a Job Placement Program?  When a student graduates from a barber college, it's essential that he or she receives support in finding that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that offer aid develop relationships with local businesses that are looking for skilled graduates available for hiring. Confirm that the schools you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Middleton WI area shops and businesses they refer students to. Also, ask what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only affirm that they have broad networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.

Is Financial Aid Available?  The majority of barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are investigating have a financial aid office. Talk to a counselor and find out 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 accessible to students also. If a school fulfills all of your other qualifications except for expense, do not eliminate it as an option until you find out what financial aid may be provided in Middleton WI.

How to Choose a Barber School in Middleton

Enroll in the Best Middleton Barber College

Selecting and enrolling in the ideal barber training program is essential to obtain the proper training to become a licensed specialist. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to in order to feel confident about your decision. Don't forget to collect all of the responses you get from the barber school admissions departments, focus on what matters the most to you, and then employ that information to compare schools. A reasonable beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make sure that the school and program you choose are accredited and have impressive reputations within the field. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to reduce your list of schools so that you can make the right selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing exam, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to start your new career as a professional barber in Middleton Wisconsin.

Middleton Barbering Colleges | Middleton Schools For Barbering