Ask your employer if they will offer support in learning the NVQ. Most businesses will relish the chance to have better trained staff and many will offer training as part of the job. If they do offer vocational training, raise the issue with them. NVQs require a business to partake in the qualification.
Choose the appropriate NVQ you wish to study. If you are new to the type of work you are doing, go for a Level 1. However, if you wish to add documentation to your existing skills, you may be able to start at a higher level. Use the government's Direct website or sites like Learn Direct and City & Guilds to discuss the most appropriate course.
Decide between paper and electronic courses. Some companies, such as NVQs Direct, offer electronic learning hubs where the information is stored on an external server until the qualification is complete. After that, the qualification is put on a CD and sent to you and also to the learning center.
Pick your options wisely. Ask your boss and learning center advisers for advice on which options to pick within your NVQ. For example, the NVQ in Direct Training and Support Level 3 NVQ has six core units. These must be completed. There are two lists of optional units of study. You can pick two from the first list and one from the second.
Study each module as required. Make notes in class, read around the subject in depth and do your best in all practical assignments. Learn the requirements of the course you are on. These requirements change between courses because plumbing is different from hairdressing and teaching children to swim. Remember, learning comes from within and is dependent on how you apply yourself to your studies.