How to Pick the Best Barbering Training Near Milwaukee Wisconsin
Once you have decided to attend a barber school near Milwaukee WI, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's imperative that the school you pick not only furnishes the appropriate education for the specialty you have selected, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit unclear about the distinction between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same type of school. We'll speak a little bit more about that in the upcoming section. If you anticipate commuting to classes you will need to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Milwaukee residence. Tuition will additionally be an important consideration when evaluating potential barber schools. Just keep in mind that because a school is the nearest or the cheapest it's not necessarily the right choice. There are a number of other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, such as their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask concerning the barber colleges you are looking at later within this article. Before we do, let's discuss a little 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.
What to Ask Barber Schools
Following is a list of questions that you should research for any barber school you are contemplating. As we have already covered, the location of the school in relation to your Milwaukee WI residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will probably be your initial qualifiers. Whether you wish 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 additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have collected several of those supplemental questions that you need to ask every school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's essential 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). Schools accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation may also be essential for securing student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Milwaukee WI for non- accredited schools. It's also a prerequisite for licensing in several states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of employers will not hire recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or may look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Good Reputation? Every barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the field. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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, signifying that their students are highly regarded. Check rating companies for reviews together with the school's accrediting organizations. If you have any connections with Milwaukee WI barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the trade, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are looking at. They may even be able to recommend others that you had not looked into. And finally, contact the Wisconsin 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 beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, concentrating on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, offering training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you enroll in a school that focuses on 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 well regarded for that program. If your dream is to open a barber shop in Milwaukee WI, then you need 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 deliver the training you need.
Is Plenty of Live Training Provided? Learning and mastering barbering skills and techniques requires plenty of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber courses you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on real people. If a Milwaukee WI barber school offers limited or no scheduled live training, but rather depends heavily on using mannequins, it might not be the best option for developing your skills. Therefore look for alternate schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? When a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that she or he receives assistance in securing that initial job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide aid maintain relationships with local employers that are searching for trained graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are contemplating have job placement programs and inquire which Milwaukee WI area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, ask what their job placement rates are. High rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Aid Offered? Many 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 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 meets each of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an option until you find out what financial assistance may be offered in Milwaukee WI.
How to Become a Barber in Milwaukee
Enroll in the Right Milwaukee Barber College
Finding and enrolling in the right barber school is important to get the proper training to become a licensed technician. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain 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 data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the institution and program you choose are accredited and have exceptional reputations within the field. If you begin with that base, and answer the additional questions presented in this article, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the proper choice. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to begin your new career as a professional barber in Milwaukee Wisconsin.