How to Find the Right Barber College Near Neenah Wisconsin
Once you have made a decision to attend a barber school near Neenah WI, the task starts to search for and enroll in the right school. It's essential that the school you choose not only furnishes the appropriate training for the specialty you have decided on, but also preps you for passing the licensing examination. When you start your preliminary search, you may 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 pretty much interchangeable and both relate to the same kind of school. We'll discuss a little bit more about 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 Neenah home. Tuition will also be a critical aspect when evaluating potential barber schools. Just bear in mind that because a school is the closest or the lowest cost it's not automatically the best option. There are several other considerations that you should weigh when comparing schools, for example their reputation and accreditation. We will go over what questions you should ask about the barber colleges you are considering later within this article. Before we do, let's talk a bit about what barbering is and why you may want to become a barber.
Why Become a Barber?
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 Barbering Training Programs
Following is a list of questions that you need to investigate for any barber school you are considering. As we have already discussed, the location of the school in relation to your Neenah WI home, in addition to the expense of tuition, will undoubtedly be your first qualifiers. Whether you would like 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 preliminary qualifications, there are additional factors that you must research and take into consideration before enrolling in a barber training program. Below we have collected several of those additional questions that you should ask each school before making a final selection.
Is the Barber College Accredited? It's important to make certain that the barber college you pick is accredited. The accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education certified local or national organization, such as the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Programs accredited by the NACCAS must meet their high standards ensuring a superior curriculum and education. Accreditation can also be necessary for acquiring student loans or financial aid, which typically are not obtainable in Neenah WI for non- accredited schools. It's also a criteria for licensing in many states that the training be accredited. And as a final benefit, numerous businesses will not recruit recent graduates of non-accredited schools, or might look more favorably 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 an excellent starting point. Next, ask the schools for endorsements from their network of businesses where they have referred their students. Check that the schools have high job placement rates, indicating that their students are highly demanded. Check rating services for reviews together with the school's accrediting agencies. If you have any contacts with Neenah WI barber shop owners or managers, or someone working in the field, ask them if they are familiar with the schools you are reviewing. They might even be able to propose others that you had not thought of. And last, contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority to find out if there have been any complaints filed or if the schools are in total compliance.
What’s the School’s Specialty? Many beauty schools offer programs that are expansive in nature, focusing on all facets of cosmetology. Others are more focused, providing training in a specific specialty, for example barbering. Schools that offer degree programs typically expand into a management and marketing curriculum. So it's important that you choose a school that focuses on your area of interest. Since your objective 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 vision is to launch a barber shop in Neenah WI, then you want to enroll in a degree program that will teach you how to be an owner/operator. Selecting a highly ranked school with a poor program in barbering will not deliver the training you need.
Is Enough Live Training Provided? Learning and refining barbering techniques and abilities requires lots of practice on volunteers. Ask how much live, hands-on training is included in the barber lessons you will be attending. A number of schools have shops on site that enable students to practice their developing talents on real people. If a Neenah WI barber school offers little or no scheduled live training, but instead relies predominantly on utilizing mannequins, it might not be the best alternative for cultivating your skills. Therefore look for other schools that offer this type of training.
Does the School have a Job Placement Program? Once a student graduates from a barber school, it's important that he or she gets assistance in securing that first job. Job placement programs are an important part of that process. Schools that furnish assistance develop relationships with area businesses that are searching for skilled graduates available for hiring. Verify that the programs you are looking at have job placement programs and ask which Neenah WI area shops and organizations they refer students to. Additionally, find out what their job placement rates are. Higher rates not only verify that they have wide networks of employers, but that their programs are highly regarded as well.
Is Financial Aid Available? Many barber schools offer financial aid or student loan assistance for their students. Find out if the schools you are considering have a financial aid department. Speak with 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 offered to students too. If a school meets all of your other qualifications except for cost, do not drop it as an alternative before you find out what financial help may be offered in Neenah WI.
How to Become a Barber in Neenah
Enroll in the Right Neenah Barber College
Choosing and enrolling in the right barber college is imperative to receive the necessary training to become a licensed specialist. Make sure to ask all the questions that you require so as to feel positive 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 utilize that data to contrast schools. A good beginning in your due diligence process is to make sure that the institution and program you pick are accredited and have outstanding reputations within the profession. If you start with that base, and address the additional questions presented in this post, you will be able to narrow down your list of schools so that you can make the proper selection. Once you graduate and pass your licensing test, you will be self-assured that you are qualified to begin your career as a professional barber in Neenah Wisconsin.