Last updated: 5 November 2026
I’ve driven forklifts for years but never had a licence. Which course do I need in Brisbane?
You need the nationally recognised LF forklift licence course (TLILIC0003), the same as everyone else: there is no separate licence for experienced operators. At FMS Training it is $499 on a weekday or $599 on a weekend at our Lawnton training centre in north Brisbane, with a training day and a separate test day both booked when you pay. Your first re-sit is free. Recognition of prior learning is possible once you show your competency on the forklift. RTO 45189.
In Queensland, driving a forklift at work needs a high risk work licence from WorkSafe Queensland. To apply for it, you must first be formally assessed on a real forklift through a Registered Training Organisation. Years of driving without a licence do not count on their own, but your experience makes a big difference on the day: you already know the machine, so the training is about doing it safely and the way the assessment expects.
Which option fits your situation?
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Driven forklifts at work, never had a licence | The LF forklift licence course (TLILIC0003): $499 weekday or $599 weekend. Tell us about your experience when you book. Recognition of prior learning is possible once you show your competency on the forklift. |
| Had a Queensland forklift licence that expired less than 12 months ago | You can usually still renew it with WorkSafe Queensland, with no course. See our forklift licence renewal guide. |
| Licence expired more than 12 months ago | You need the full course and assessment again: the same LF forklift licence course. |
| Licence is current, but your employer wants proof you are still safe | A Verification of Competency. This is a workplace check. It does not give you a licence. |
| A group of experienced drivers at one workplace | Training and assessment at your site. See onsite training or call 1300 699 150 for a quote. |
What the course looks like when you have already driven a forklift
- Before the course: you get pre-course video guides, filmed at our own Lawnton training facility on our own forklifts with our own instructors, plus a training manual. You do the theory at home, at your own pace.
- Training day: no PowerPoint or classroom on the day. You spend many hours on the forklifts, with excellent student to forklift ratios. Our trainers check that you operate safely and have not picked up bad habits along the way. The training is competency based: if you show you are safe and competent, we won’t keep you any longer than needed.
- Test day: your assessment is on a separate day, already booked when you pay, so you are never left waiting for a test date.
- If you don’t pass: your first re-sit is free. We book you into a spare seat on a later test day, and you can get extra practice first if you need it.
- After you pass: apply online to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days and pay its licence fee of $113.41 directly to WorkSafe. Your WorkSafe receipt plus your Candidate Assessment Summary is your interim licence until your card arrives.
What to bring
100 points of ID, including one photo ID (for example a driver licence, a Medicare card and a bank card), and your Unique Student Identifier. See forklift licence eligibility and what to bring.
Why experienced drivers choose FMS Training
- Training day and test day booked together when you pay.
- Your first re-sit is free.
- Lawnton, in Moreton Bay, is an easy drive from Strathpine, Petrie, Kallangur, North Lakes, Narangba and Caboolture.
- Weekday and weekend classes.
- 4.9-star Google rating.
- Outstanding Education Service winner, Moreton Bay Local Business Awards 2025 and 2026.
- Female-owned, with more than 35 years in training.
Read more: how much a forklift licence costs in Brisbane, is the forklift test hard to pass? and do I need a licence to drive a forklift in Queensland?
Questions experienced operators ask
I’ve driven a forklift for years without a licence. Do I still need a course?
Yes. Every new forklift licence in Queensland needs a formal assessment through a Registered Training Organisation before you can apply to WorkSafe Queensland. At FMS Training that is our LF forklift licence course: $499 weekday or $599 weekend at Lawnton, with your training day and separate test day booked when you pay. RTO 45189.
Can I get recognition of prior learning for my forklift experience?
Driving without a licence does not count on its own, but recognition of prior learning is possible once you show your competency on the forklift. Tell us about your experience when you book.
How much is a forklift licence for an experienced operator in Brisbane?
The same as for anyone: $499 on a weekday or $599 on a weekend at FMS Training in Lawnton, for the training day and the separate test day. Your first re-sit is free. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee of $113.41 is paid separately to WorkSafe.
Is a Verification of Competency the same as a forklift licence?
No. A Verification of Competency is a workplace check for people who already hold a licence. It does not give you a high risk work licence. If you have never held a licence, you need the LF forklift licence course.
My forklift licence has expired. Do I need to do the course again?
If it expired less than 12 months ago, you can usually still renew it with WorkSafe Queensland. If it expired more than 12 months ago, you need the full course and assessment again. See our forklift licence renewal guide.