How to Select the Best Barbering School Near Milwaukee Wisconsin
Since you have made a decision to enroll in a barber school near Milwaukee WI, the task begins to locate and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you select not only furnishes the proper education for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you might be a little bit confused about the contrast between beauty schools and cosmetology schools, which both may offer barbering programs. Well don't be, because the titles are essentially interchangeable and both refer to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about that in the upcoming segment. If you intend on commuting to classes you will want to locate a school that is within driving distance of your Milwaukee home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when assessing possible barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the nearest or the lowest cost it's not always the best choice. There are many other factors that you should evaluate when reviewing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will examine what questions you should ask regarding the barber colleges you are thinking about later in 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?
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 Barbering Colleges
Following is a series of questions that you will want to look into for any barber college you are considering. As we have previously discussed, the location of the school relative to your Milwaukee WI residence, in addition to the price of tuition, will undoubtedly be your initial qualifiers. Whether you would like to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree will undoubtedly be next on your list. But once you have narrowed your school choices based on those initial qualifications, there are even more factors that you need to research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber college. Below we have compiled some of those additional questions that you need to ask each school before making a final determination.
Is the Barber School Accredited? It's important to make sure that the barber training program 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). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must comply with their high standards assuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for getting student loans or financial aid, which frequently are not available in Milwaukee WI for non- accredited schools. It's also a requirement for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a concluding benefit, a number of businesses will not employ recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more positively upon individuals with accredited training.
Does the School have a Great Reputation? Each barber school that you are seriously considering should have a good to exceptional reputation within the industry. Being accredited is an excellent starting point. 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 regarded. Check rating services for reviews as well as the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Milwaukee WI barber shop owners or managers, or any person working in the business, ask them if they are acquainted with the schools you are reviewing. They may even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. Finally, contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints submitted or if the schools are in complete compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? A number of beauty schools offer programs that are comprehensive in nature, focusing on all areas of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a particular specialty, such as barbering. Schools that offer degree programs commonly 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 desire is to start a barber shop in Milwaukee 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 Any Hands-On Training Provided? Studying and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on people. Check how much live, hands-on training is provided in the barber lessons you will be attending. Some schools have shops on campus that make it possible for students to practice their growing talents on volunteers. If a Milwaukee WI barber school offers minimal or no scheduled live training, but instead depends heavily on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the most effective alternative for cultivating your skills. So search for other schools that provide this type of training.
Does the School Provide Job Assistance? Once a student graduates from a barber college, it's important that he or she gets assistance in securing that very first job. Job placement programs are an integral part of that process. Schools that provide help develop relationships with area employers that are seeking skilled graduates available for hiring. Check that the schools you are considering have job placement programs and find out which Milwaukee WI area shops and organizations they refer students to. In addition, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have extensive networks of employers, but that their programs are highly respected as well.
Is Financial Assistance Offered? Most barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department. Talk to a counselor and identify 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 available to students as well. If a school satisfies each of your other qualifications with the exception of cost, do not omit it as an option before you determine what financial aid may be provided in Milwaukee WI.
How to Choose a Barber College in Milwaukee
Choose in the Right Milwaukee Barber College
Locating and enrolling in the ideal barber college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed practitioner. Be sure to ask all the questions that you need to so as to feel certain about your decision. Make certain to compile all of the responses you receive from the barber school admissions departments, prioritize what matters the most to you, and then use that data to compare schools. A sensible beginning in your due diligence procedure is to make certain that the school and program you select are accredited and have excellent reputations within the field. If you start with that foundation, and address the additional questions supplied in this post, you will be able to filter your list of schools so that you can make the ideal selection. And when you graduate and pass your licensing examination, you will be self-assured that you are ready to start your career as a professional barber in Milwaukee Wisconsin.