Becoming a Real Estate Agent

[Nicholas Mills]

I'm hoping I can find some help here.  I have been listening to the BP podcast for quite some time and am currently working on paying off some debt, at which point I want to begin investing in real estate.  Until I reach that point in time I have been considering becoming a real estate agent.  My belief was that this would get me educated in how the real estate market works and give me a general understanding before I actually become an investor.  Also, any extra money made through being an agent would only shorten my timeline to becoming an investor myself.  

So my question is should I become an agent or just stick to reading and gaining knowledge through BP?  I work a 40 hour-per-week job and would have weeknights and weekends to devote to being an agent.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Nick