Well FS as you can see, you asked a loaded question.
First, as mentioned, you just don't walk in to a firm and and say, I am a technical analyst hire me, or I am here to be "trained" or have an apprenticeship. You need the sheepskins, and the better your transcripts are, the more prestigious the school, the better your chances are of getting on. Unless you are very talented or connected, you will no doubt start at the bottom rung, doing whatever job they tell you to do, usually in the sell side. You will labor for many hours, anonymous, unheralded and disrespected for some time, if during this time period you have proven yourself, meaning being successful at whatever work you were assigned, then and only then might you have a chance to do what you really want to do.
Also a strictly TA analyst really does not exist today, to be an analyst you need to have a full understanding of Macro and Micro factors, some political science and understanding, and the list goes on and on. Understand that these firms want only the best and brightest, to prove that, you need the degrees, and the educational backing.
The alternate route, trade well, post your certified P&L for 3-5 yrs on some internet board, and you never know, but, as with many endeavors, trading is much easier to talk about, than it is to do. But really, if it was easy, everyone would do it.
The Ever Running at the Mouth
Viper
