As per Jimmy M, I went on an NGO day last year, and it was a good place to start for a novice. The day was aimed at giving you the basic knowledge and techniques, on which to build a basis to move forward with your dog with your own training.
I have a lab, used for beating, picking up, and rough shooting, however, having worked on blood tracking / trailing a deer skin since this course - albeit at a basic level, and using what I learned from the day, I am now very happy that my dog will find a deer should it run over a short distance, and on two occasions, he has been brought in to find runners ( 70M and 85M approx ) which we would probably not have recovered in the forestry where they were shot.
If you have a dog, and stalk deer, then I would recommend these days as a good place to start to get unbiased, well intentioned information, which will start you on the right road. Watching the dog work a trail out is actually quite addictive, and thrilling when they get it right.... especially for a lab !!!!!
All the best.
Neil.