Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-11298357-20130626194532/@comment-8986886-20130626205745

Do you mean: is it possible to become a Shinigami captain, or lieutenant without first attending Shin'ō Academy?

I suppose someone with a strong reiatsu can find an Asauchi, create a Zanpakutō, challenge and kill the captain of squad 11 in front of 200 or more squad members; like Kenpachi Zaraki without the academy training.