How do you bridge the gap between leanring and working in SEO?

Hi all, I'm currently doing all sort of courses and training to learn SEO and hope that one day I can freelance as a consultant or specialist. So once one has the theoretical knowledge, how does he bridge the gap between knowing thigs and becoming a professional? How did you do? What do you recomand? What do people arround did? What would be a smart move? I'm still have a lot to learn but I'd be interested to have your enlightened takes. Thanks. edit: typo in title, sorry.