How long does the program take to complete? Because of differences in educational background and work experience, the answer is different for every student.  The material you see online is equivalent to approximately 225 hours of study.  In addition to that, you need to spend approximately 2 hours of textbook study for every hour you spend online.  That totals 675 total hours of study.   Therefore, a student with no prior background and spending 12 to 13 hours per week, can expect to complete the program in approximately one year.  Those with prior knowledge of some of the material can expect to complete the program in a shorter time span. In comparison, most in-class programs have a fixed duration, typically lasting 18 months.