"Normally you need to reach Level 2 status before you can trade options or trade on margin."

You can get a certificate from Dough.com by going through the Doughjo training videos and answering the quizzes with at least 70% accuracy and TDA will automatically grant you tier 2-3 status without ever having made a trade.

And I think one would learn much more about investing by losing 2500$ in trading than they ever would by just buying something and holding it for 10 years. The lessons you learn will be worth much more over a lifetime than just holding it.