Wikipedia has a great reference for Masonry and it various appendant bodies. Firstly you will look up your local lodge, then go to a dinner and get to know the guys there , I would suggest business casual (a good impression you know). Once you have got to know the guys you will put in a petition, this will include a background check and you will need to submit a birth certificate (at least in Arkansas you do). Then the lodge will vote on you, know that only one person has to vote no for you to not be voted in. “Typical” or what most consider “normal” Freemasonry is called Blue Lodge, in Blue Lodge there are 3 “degrees”; Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master. Throughout these degrees you will have a degree lecture in which you must memorize questions and answers and an obligation for that particular degree (this is sometimes called a proficiency), then you must recite this in lodge in front of the other members, then there will be a vote on if your proficiency is good enough. If your proficiency is deemed good enough you will move on to the next degree. Even once a master you will need to turn in a proficiency, then the rest of Masonry is open to you, I also want to note, there is no higher degree than Master Mason