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FWIW, I thought I was a good official earlier than I was a good official. (Does this mean that, in the future, I'll look back on right now and realize that I wasn't a good official right now when I think that I am?) It doesn't take long to master rules and mechanics, if you're diligent about the preparation. It's the other stuff -- working with coaches, game management, handling unusual situations with aplomb -- that takes longer. It only comes with experience. Rather than "years," you might measure your progress in the number of games you've worked.
Anyway, I think I became a really good official about my sixth year. I then spent two years "at the top of my game." Confident, knowledgeable, etc. And I got lazy. I thought I knew the rules cold. But after I reached the top (my top, not THE top!) I didn't stick my nose in the book as often as I previously did. I thought I didn't need to. And I didn't need to ... until it turns out that I did. In my eighth year, I had a couple of experiences which really humbled me and from that point on I've committed to studying as hard now as I did when I was starting. It turns out that it's really helpful!
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