As a pilot site for the Occupational Standards/Skill Mix project in breast screening, the Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry Breast Screening Service appointed two trainee assistant practitioners. Besides their practical mammography training, it was decided they should follow the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) award course 'Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support in Care' level 3. This type of learning was new to us and probably new to most breast screening and X-ray departments.

We present a short explanation of the NVQ system, together with a description of benefits to others who may be contemplating following in our footsteps.