SOC Academy, Bucharest

SOC Academy on Bulevardul Libertății in Bucharest is the hairstyling school founded by the barber behind the Octavian Sârbu Concept barbershops, trading as Artistic Hair Education. Its curriculum genuinely includes men’s cutting, scissor and clipper work, so the barbering content is real.

Set your expectations correctly, though. This is a hairstyling programme with barbering inside it rather than a dedicated barbering course, and it is the thinnest-documented Romanian entry here. Classes run Monday to Friday mornings, but the total course length is not stated and the site gives two different finishing times in different places. The price is not published at all. Payment is described as an advance deposit with the balance across six instalments. Modules cover cutting technique with scissors and clippers and men’s cuts, plus personal development, social media promotion and photography and videography, which is a genuinely useful commercial layer. The certification is described as accredited and internationally recognised with no body named, so treat it as the school’s own. The last advertised intake has passed with no replacement date shown, so contact them before assuming a course is running.

On Romanian credentials: the mark that matters is ANC authorisation, a course authorised under Government Ordinance 129/2000 yields a certificat de calificare recognised nationally and across the EU. Several Romanian academies advertise a ministry-certified or internationally recognised diploma without naming an authorising body or publishing an authorisation number. That is not proof of a fake, but it is not proof of ANC authorisation either, so ask for the number in writing before you pay.