If you are asking about resources, this is certainly a solid resource for local SEO. It's a very helpful community and it's probably one of the only forums where I see the owner of the forum contribute equally as much as the members of the community. To me, that speaks volumes about the dedication Linda has to Local SEO and how much she appreciates this community. And no, i'm not getting paid anything to plug this place...lol
Can SEO be learned? Absolutely! Is it an easy road? Most likely not. How much time it takes surely depends on you and how well you retain information. The most difficult part is finding trustworthy resources. There is A LOT of bad information out there in terms of SEO. (SEOChat Forums is a decent place to start. Read all the stickies first) Understand what on-page metrics have the most impact and learn about post-panda link building. Understand how to make the best landing pages you can and define clear conversion funnels for site visitors. If there is a book I recommend, Landing Page Optimization 1st & 2nd Editions by Tim Ash. Very few books out there that maintain relevancy over time and his books are one of them.
Get a basic understanding about SEO and ask specific questions instead of broad questions. They usually get the best responses. You'd be amazed at how much the designs you are creating impact the overall impression of the visitor.
We all started in the same place as you, don't forget that. It can be overwhelming at times but dredge through it. Good luck and you've come to a great place to get started.