Bates Technical College Barber Program: Requirements and Opportunities in Washington State
Washington State stands out as one of the highest-paying states for barbers, making it an attractive location to pursue a barbering career. If you enjoy working with your hands and interacting with people, becoming a barber in Washington might be an excellent path for you. Bates Technical College offers a comprehensive barber program that can help you achieve your goals.
Barbering in Washington State: An Overview
Barbers provide services such as haircuts, shaves, and beard trims to clients of all ages and backgrounds. In Washington, prospective barbers must be at least 17 years old and possess a high school diploma or GED. After completing a training program, candidates must pass a licensing exam administered by the Washington State Department of Licensing.
Bates Technical College Barber Program
Bates Technical College has the only barber program in Washington State in which students prepare to become licensed barbers while learning in a stand-alone program and working in an on-campus shop that serves the public. The Bates barber school offers a comprehensive, hands-on education in the field. Established in 1950, it is the oldest barber program in Pierce County. As hairstyles have evolved, so have the students attending the school.
The program is designed to provide foundational knowledge and skills needed for a successful barbering career. Students are evaluated on the performance of each competency of the curriculum to ensure readiness to meet state licensure requirements and enter the profession. Prior to program completion, each student must take and pass a comprehensive written and practical examination that includes theoretical concepts. The program also provides extended learning opportunities for persons previously or currently employed in related professions.
Curriculum and Training
Throughout the barbering program at Bates Technical College, students can expect to cover essential haircutting techniques for varied hair types and styles. The program includes 21 classes, encompassing haircutting, sterilization, and accounting, completed over four quarters to meet the state’s requirement of 1,000 hours of instruction.
Read also: Landing a Bates White Internship
Customer service is another essential element of barbering. Students learn to communicate effectively with clients, build relationships, and provide a stellar experience.
In an adjacent classroom, students are working on mannequins. In the barbershop, aspiring barbers are working with actual customers, many attracted by the lure of a free haircut or shave. Cuts and shaves are always free, and tips are gladly accepted. While appointments can be made, most customers walk in off the street.
Program Options
There are about 36 students going through the program at any one time. High school students can take the program and earn both their diploma and barber’s license simultaneously. Others can earn a certificate or an Associate of Arts degree along with their license, which is issued by the state following exams.
Alternative Pathway: Apprenticeship
Like its cosmetology apprenticeships, Washington State provides an apprenticeship pathway for those who want on-the-job training instead of a traditional barbering program. Throughout your apprenticeship, you focus on developing the skills you'd learn in a barbering program. Offered through Bates Technical College, the apprenticeship program may offer you paid, on-the-job learning. Apprenticeships are a great option for people who like to work with their hands and are ready to go to work.
Washington Barber Licensing Exam
Completing your apprenticeship or barber program is essential to your training, but it all culminates with Washington's barber licensing exam. Washington's barber exam includes written and practical portions testing your knowledge and skills in various barbering areas. To pass the test, you must earn a minimum score of 75% on both exam sections.
Read also: Explore Bates Chinese
The written part of the Washington barber exam is computer based and includes 100 multiple-choice questions. The practical exam assesses your technical skills in a real-world setting and tests three areas: haircutting, shaving, and beard trimming. You must bring your own equipment, supplies, and mannequin head to the exam.
After receiving passing scores, you're eligible to apply for your licensure. After earning your initial Washington barber license, you must renew it biannually.
The Barbering Experience at Bates Tech
Bates Technical College’s barbershop has a unique atmosphere. Students cut hair with the attention of a surgeon, occasionally calling over an instructor for guidance.
The school’s clients come from all walks of life. Some are professionals on their lunch break, or service members from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Others are homeless men and women, pensioners on tight budgets, and students. According to program director Sheron Rogers, clients include “Anybody with hair… And if they don’t have hair, we do shaves, too.”
Instructor Perspectives
Josh Larkins, a Bates graduate from 2008, was the first African American barber instructor hired in the school’s history. He now owns a barbershop in Tacoma. According to Larkins, “I like the impact that I get to have, not only as an instructor, but as a barber myself.” His students have ranged in age from 16 to 63 and include both introverts and extroverts.
Read also: Explore Bates Tech Jobs
Through his interactions with clients, Rogers maintains the passion for barbering. “I like being able to change the course of someone’s day,” he said. “That may be the only positive interaction some people have, or the only control that they have in their life for that day.”
Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations
After completing the Bates Technical College barber program and obtaining your license, numerous career opportunities await. Many barbers rent a chair in an established barbershop and set their own hours. Others may choose to open their own barbershops, providing them with greater autonomy and potential for higher earnings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, barbers in Washington earned an average annual salary of $63,140 in 2022.
Student Success Stories
Student Phoenix Shepard knew he wanted to be a barber at age 15. Now 18, the Steilacoom High School graduate is a few months shy of completing Bates’ barber program. “The family, the conversations, the openness, the creativity that’s in the room,” Shepard said when asked why he chose barbering. The program, he said, has not only taught him how to cut hair but also about himself.
Roy Blanchard, a 55-year-old student, represents a different path. After 27 years in the Air Force and a second career in banking, he sought a new direction after the loss of his wife. Inspired by a conversation with his barber, he enrolled at Bates College. “My main focus is, outside of work, being able to enjoy my life as much as I possibly can. And I think this is a great career that will allow me to do that.” He already has a chair lined up at a local barbershop.
Luna Cable, 24, isn’t sure she’s going to be a barber, but she knows she’s going to own a barbershop. Soon. Her grandmother owned a barbershop in Spanaway. After the older woman died, Cable’s parents offered her the shop. Cable is attracted to the career’s flexibility. “I think that’s something a lot of people in my generation is looking forward to - not feeling tied down, feeling like they have to do things the traditional way,” she said.
Jo Ramirez, a few years out of the Navy, became interested in cutting hair while serving on the USS Nimitz. “Everybody needs a haircut on the water, and the ship barber was not it,” he said. A friend urged him to cut hair, off the books, for his fellow sailors. “When I was out on the water, it just kind of gave me some type of sense (of purpose),” he recalled. “I was going through some hard times.” Ramirez is now in his second quarter at Bates, making his barber career legit.
Additional Programs at Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College offers a wide array of programs across various career pathways, including:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Prepares you for careers in manufacturing and aerospace industries.
- Hospitality: Connects you with South Sound’s only American Culinary Federation Accredited Culinary Arts degree and certificate program.
- Education and Public Safety: Focuses on early childhood education, firefighter training, and leadership development in Public Safety Administration.
- STEM: Prepares students for careers in information technology, robotics, electronics, and engineering.
- College & Career Preparation: Supports students who need to complete high school or prepare for college or a career.
- Child Studies: Educates parents, child care employees, and caregivers on early childhood topics.
tags: #bates #technical #college #barber #program #requirements
