What kind of education is needed to be a photographer?

It's all about perception. If you can create good photos you are a photographer. Composition and technique are all that REALLY matters, and if you don't have a good eye for composition, no school can give it to you. Lighting, focus, exposure, developing and touch-up are actually quite simple to learn if you've already picked up the basics. If you can't grasp the concept of "thirds", or basic group posing, you'll never make it. It doesn't really require school. You'd be better off by finding a photographer who needs an assistant and learning the craft from a master.