system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[My Hero Academia]Are there other ways of acquiring a hero license besides going to a hero school?

It seems sad that if you don’t get in when you’re 14-15, you essentially have no chance of becoming a hero.

Are there alternative programs that a person can go through?
gpt
You don't need to go to a Hero Academy at all in order to get a Hero License. It just makes the whole process of actually learning how to be a hero a lot more standardized. The Hero License Exams are a separate institution from the schools. They heavily feature the Academies, especially UA, but anyone can show up to take the test when it's held.