Education · 1 of 5

The path

No diploma or licence. You climb a ranked ladder, then amateur teams, then the leagues.

1. 1

   Reach the top of ranked play

   Years, often from age 12 to 16

   Canadians play on North American servers, so you compete with the whole continent for a scout's attention.

2. 2

   Join amateur teams and online tournaments

   1 to 3 years

   Play with a fixed team, learn communication and roles, and build a record people can look up.

3. 3

   Get noticed by a second-tier team

   1 to 2 years

   Development leagues and academy teams. Pay is low or nothing, but this is where top teams scout.

4. 4

   Sign with a top-league team

   Often age 18 to 21

   Riot's top Valorant leagues require players to be 18. Most top North American teams are based in the United States.

5. 5

   Plan the exit

   A career of about 3 to 6 years

   Most pros stop competing in their mid-twenties and move to streaming, coaching or work in the industry.