While there are groomers that have been successful going that route, honestly, I do not recommend it. I think it is SO important to work with a seasoned and skilled groomer for a year or more before going out on your own. There is SO much that cannot be taught in just 20 days or through an online course. It's not about the haircuts. Those can be learned. It's about the handling, the safe restraint, the customer interactions. It's about learning how to be a trainer. We train dogs every single day. We train them to stand up and stand still. We train them to accept handling from strangers. We train them to tolerate brushing and combing and clippers on their ears. We work on dogs that the owners are unable to work on. Anyone can learn to do a hair cut, how to safely use a pair of clippers or shears. That's easy. It takes time and skill to handle the dogs safely. If the dog is dancing all over the table and you do not have the skill to gently teach them proper behavior, you will not get a good haircut.
While this news article shows the extreme, a groomer needs to be trained in reading body language, in dealing with insistant clients, in how to safely remove themselves from a situation like this one.
https://www.necn.com/news/new-england/PetSmart-Groomer-Badly-Injured-in-Pit-Bull-Attack-in-Hyannis-Massachusetts-467013363.html
Also, many find this isn't quite the career they expected. They see seasoned groomers working on well behaved dogs, giving belly rubs, getting smooches. It looks amazing. It is amazing. It's also hard, dirty, heartbreaking, wet, hairy and smelly.
If there is any way possible to get hired on at a salon, even part time, as a bather or receptionist or even just cleaning, I highly recommend it. Before you spend thousands on a very basic education, it's important to be in the trenches for a bit to see if it's right for you.
Barb