Prop Firm clerk question to those who were once in my position????

I have been working as clerk for a prop firm in Chicago for 2 1/2 years and I'm wondering what is an acceptable amount of time to be a clerk before before becoming a trader. I manage the desk for the overnight (European markets) and I'm eager to leave the nocturnal life and trade during the day. I also have a lot of debt from B school and would like to increase my income in order to pay it off (as a clerk I get a smaller salary with some bonus but it's just enough to get by living in Chicago). I have learned to trade STIRs and a few other futures successfully. I have started looking at other prop firms because I feel like my boss will keep me as a clerk as long as he possibly can because his only incentive to promote me to a junior trader is to keep me from jumping ship to another firm.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated