Well the state association is good because they regulate all the high school sports, deal with disciplinary issues/suspensions, deal with recruiting, rate officials, and assign the state postseason tournament, which you may have heard is a pretty big deal in Indiana. :D

My local association (I'm a member of two) is good for rules discussion, hearing presentations on different topics, newer officials like me making connections to get games, and fellowship!

You get that here for free.

I'd consider this training.

Looking back at my basketball records...

My first year I worked 112 games (combined youth wreck and High School/Jr High).

Gross income was about $2600... Net income was about $1800 after clinics (most of which were free), association dues ($65), registration with the state (only $10 because it was an add-on after football), uniform, mileage, etc.

Background check was handled by the state.

My experience probably isn't typical to a complete newbie... my association does football and basketball, and I had been doing football for 4 years prior to starting basketball, so the higher-ups and assigners knew me already.

Here too. You don't have to be a member of an association to attend.

Yeah but I think the OP was interested in more formal rules/court training.

State association, I figure was probably mandatory for certification and such.

But it does appear the local does do training.

There is no charge for training but it is only open to dues paying members. We do rules/mechanics reviews at chapter meetings and run training games as part of a HS fall league (refs work for free while trainers evaluate and take notes; teams understand that they are getting trainees). It runs for six weeks and you go to as many or as few as you want but the more you do the more games you'll get later. It works very well and we are one of the highest rated chapters every year.

Our dues pay for chapter fees, inurance, scheduling, state registration, and background checks.

What a new ref can make depends on competence and whether or not they can get into the tournamnt rotation (a who you know thing here). Low end would be about $1000, high end near $3000. Someone with years of coaching or pee wee league experience who really knows the game can move up fast. Even with almost 400 refs in our chapter we still have trouble covering games - there are a lot of schools, clubs teams, and junior leagues in the area so a good ref can work all year and make good money.