Online Schools for Barbers: How to Choose

Education programs for barbers are not normally available in fully online format. Some prerequisites for entry-level education programs may be available online and opportunities for students to study cosmetology business and management may also be found.

Choosing an Online School for Barbers

Program Availability

Entry-level training programs for barbers are usually not available in online form because of the hands-on nature of hair care and training requirements. For most who wish to be barbers, traditional courses at a beauty school or a traditional college with a hair care program are usually required.
Some prerequisite courses in areas such as business, law, customer service, anatomy and physiology may be available in online format from some institutions. Other programs are also available for barbers and cosmetology professionals who wish to incorporate their training and experience towards credit for a degree program.

Requirements for Licensing and Certification

Most states have different licensing requirements for barbers and other cosmetology professionals. Normally, professionals in this field must complete a state-approved education program and pass a licensing test, typically offered through the state's licensing cosmetology board. Advanced positions, such as instructor or manager, are usually more accessible to those who have completed suitable training and obtained professional certification.

Available Online Programs for Hair Stylists

Anatomy and Prerequisite Programs

Courses specifically designed as prerequisites for those who will enter beauty school are available in online form from some institutions. Subjects covered often include anatomy and physiology as needed for beauty professionals. Courses may also cover how skin, nails and hair are affected by various products and the diseases and conditions that may be associated with them.

Cosmetology Business and Law Programs

Law and business programs may be available online specifically for cosmetology, with the purpose of preparing graduates for career advancement into an area such as management or entrepreneurship for those who wish to start their own businesses. Courses are usually offered through college education software that combines communication tools, such as email and forums, with online testing and some automatic assignment grading capabilities.