In the US, you'll pretty much have to have the 4-year degree; 1,500 hours and all the ATP requirements and probably the ATP itself. This is a long row to hoe. Worse, your timing might put at the downhill side of the huge retirement bulge. If you accomplished at that in 8 years, you'd be in the middle of huge hiring, wait til you are 40 and definitely past the hiring binge just teeing up.

GF