A learning apparatus for a variable valve control of an internal combustion engine includes a variable valve operating mechanism, an actuator that rotationally drives the control shaft, a control shaft sensor that detects an angular position of the control shaft, a reference position determining section that determines whether or not the control shaft has reached a predetermined reference position under the drive from the actuator, a learning section that learns an output value of the control shaft sensor when it is determined that the control shaft has reached the reference position and stores the learned output value as a sensor output reference value, and a learning preparing section that causes the control shaft to be driven by the actuator toward the reference position when a crankshaft of the engine is rotating and supply of fuel to the engine is stopped. A learning method is also provided.