Is there any way to practice with MacOS w/o buying a MacBook?

Apple macOS software is licensed for use only on Apple hardware.

You’re also going to be limited to what troubleshooting is permissible on a Mac that you don’t have exclusive access to, or that you don’t own. This as you’re expressly heading for wiping and reloading and related tasks, probably also provisioning and related remote management tasks, and quite possibly for introducing new problems or corruptions that might cause data loss at least until you better understand the environment.

Check with the folks managing the IT courses for suggestions here, as you’re headed for borrowing or renting hardware, or buying an old Mac. This as you’re just not going to be allowed to poke around with remote management or reloading macOS or other tasks in an Apple Store or on a general-use Mac in a school library.

Go to the computer lab or library. Certainly a school that requires using a specific computer has them available for student use.

There are services that will "Rent a Mac".

There are Cloud Hosting Services that will give you access to a Mac in the cloud on a Month-to-Month basis.

Google can find these for you.

But if you can get hands on physical access to a friend's, family member, or computer lab that might be less expensive.

Go to an Apple Store closed your location and see and perhaps doodle on the machine.

Sort of like kicking the tire s/ tyres at a Car Dealership

Sleuth3lle Said:

"Is there any way to practice with MacOS w/o buying a MacBook?"

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Learning of MacOS:

Use a friend's of family member's device, with their permission, of course. Elsewise, purchase some books. David Pogue is an great author. I read his books in his series called "The Missing Manuals". You'll find plenty on amazon: The Missing Manual Series: Books