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CHOOSING A HIGH QUALITY |
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Grooming schools are not alike. Just as their organization and curriculums are not alike. Therefore choosing a career as a professional groomer takes research and asking the right questions. We have compiled a list of important questions, we believe, most students forget to ask. We hope they will help you make an informed decision. Remember it's your career and your money. General questions: Is the school currently licensed by the state? Do you receive a certificate upon completion of the program from a state certified school? Does the course curriculum include both academics as well as practical? Are there tests? Is there a final examination? What is a passing grade? What are the schools standards? What is the curriculum? Are the instructors state licensed? Are the instructors' licenses current? All these certificates and certificates for continuing education courses taken by the instructors, should be placed in full view for the general public. Are some of the instructors recent graduates of the school? What is the experience of all instructors, not just the head instructor? How many years have they been in the profession and what goals have they achieved while being in the business? Does the school instill quality work? Does the school do mostly "shave-downs"? Is the instructor or instructors teaching and also doing the administrative business paperwork of the school? Instructors should be hired to TEACH ONLY. Is there a separate "Directors" office where you can discuss your goals, progress and grades in a private setting? Although grooming schools are not obligated to secure grooming positions after you graduate, they do have placement data on how many they did assist in placement. What is the percentage rate? Is the school have a library reference center? Is the school operating from a grooming shop? Some boards of education in states are now requiring schools to have separate classrooms and separate practical rooms. If they are operating from a grooming shop, is the instructor state certified to teach? Approximately how many pets will you be able to groom per day when you have completed the program? Does the school receive enough pets per day so the students are not sharing grooming assignments? The more pets each student grooms from beginning to end, the more knowledge they will gain in their practical application. Are there professional groomers on the floor when you are grooming? If so, then you are loosing hands on experience because all pets that come in for grooming, are not solely for teaching the students. At the California School of Dog Grooming, all pets that come in for grooming, are specifically arranged for the student's instruction. Tuition costs vary in grooming schools and it is wise to choose a school not solely based on low, medium or high costs of your grooming education. There is an old saying, "You get what you pay for." |
