There's another route to getting your A&P not listed in this thread, the light sport rule allows an LSRM to apply for authorization to take the A&P written and practical exams after working in the field for 30+ months under his or her own supervision. You earn a Light Sport Repairman Certificate with Maintenance rating in a 15 day course (it was 3 weeks when I took it) and then all your build work will count towards the 30 months to take the A&P test.

This article is about one guy who did it: https://www.aviatorshotline.com/cont...rization-ap-ia

FAA Inspectors Handbook. Order 8900.1 Volume 5 Chapter 5 Section 6
paragraph 5-1253.

5-1253 CREDIT FOR LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
TOWARD MECHANIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 65,
SECTION 65.77. A repairman (light-sport aircraft) with a maintenance rating
may document time working on either ELSA or SLSA. To apply for a mechanic's
rating the repairman must show that he or she has at least 18 months of
practical experience working on either powerplants or airframes, or that he
or she has at least 30 months of practical experience working on airframes
or powerplants concurrently. One month's practical experience is 160 hours
of documented time.

It's still a lot of work, the A&P tests are comprehensive and 30 months x 160 hours = 4,800 hours, but it is another avenue toward A&P.