Cytech qualification

Hey,

Am super keen to become a bike mechanic, having fixed bikes on a casual basis for years for friends, family and neighbours alike!

The cytech courses are obviously the gold standard, but finding money and time to do them is a pain in the arse. Has anyone completed the Cytech L2 assessment without having completed the training first? If so, how did it go? Any tips or advice? How difficult is it for someone with lots of exp in fixing up bikes?