How to get started?

[slickpitt]

First off just want to say hello... obviously new here, just stumbled across this forum from a google search. So I apologize if this isn't the right spot to post. Name is Clay, 30 yrs old, live in NE Oklahoma. Anyway...

I've been wanting to get into officiating football for a while now, but just never got serious about it. After talking things over with my wife and surprisingly getting full support, I've decided to make a serious effort to get into it. I'm really just not sure where to start. I'd like to get my ducks in a row so I'll be ready for the 2009 season. I'm assuming that there would be some sort of testing/certification to go through. I would think they would want to know you knew what you were doing before they let you on the field. Any suggestions on where to start? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, I eventually would want to officiate HS and maybe even college games at some level, but understand starting small in youth leagues and such is probably smart/required. I like to think I understand rules and such, but am humble and realize I have a lot to learn. So any advise on a path to get to that level would also be very much appreciated.

Thanks!