I passed my Extra a year ago but only learned enough CW to scrape by the old 5 WPM requirement. Now I really want to get comfortable at 20+ WPM for contesting and DXing.

Debating between signing up for CW Academy (heard great things but there's a waiting list) versus continuing self-study with apps like MorseForge and LCWO. Currently around 8-10 WPM head copy but get lost when stations send faster.

For those who've made this jump - what worked best? Worth waiting for CWA or can I effectively get there solo? Also curious about the plateau around 10-12 WPM everyone mentions.

CW Academy is absolutely worth the wait if you can get in. The structured approach and having an actual elmer guide you through the plateaus makes a huge difference. That said, if you're motivated, you can definitely do it solo - just takes more discipline and patience.

The 10-12 WPM plateau is real! I broke through by forcing myself to listen to faster code even when I could only catch maybe 30% of it. Your brain starts adapting to the rhythm. LCWO's word training at 15 WPM helped me immensely during that phase.

I went the self-study route from 5 to 25 WPM over about 8 months. Key was consistent daily practice (even just 15-20 minutes) and gradually increasing speed. Don't be afraid to listen to code faster than you can copy - it trains your ear for the rhythm and spacing.