Do you need to start EV training with a lvl 1 pokemon or not?

Say I catch a lvl12 pokemon and it has the nature I'm after. Can I still EV train it using all 510EV points or has it already used some EV points up because it's lvl12. Sorry if it doesn't make sense...hope it does.

No you can start EV training at any lvl. A wild pokemon always starts with zero EV's.

Note that the gains of EV's are applied when leveling so a level 100 pokemon won't gain anythig from EV's anymore. Finish up collecting all EV's by level 99.

cheers guys! I started with a lvl 1 modest cyndaquil, lvl 20 something quilava now, I've killed like 176 hoothoot and 150 oddish! Got me a table so I don't forget!

did an IV calculator, it seems this cyndaquil is pretty good, it suggests most values are 15 and above and my special attack is 29-31!

Well technically you can...but it's a very erritating process so...yeah, I'm gonna just go with this...besides, I don't see someone actually needing to EV train at any level that's above 90 but that's me...&...good Joeyboy, just be sure not to trust those results too much til it hits lv. 50 as most pokemon at that level & higher tend to give you exact results most of the time...