Last updated: 5 November 2026
What is the best forklift training in Brisbane for complete beginners?
Look for a nationally recognised LF forklift licence course (TLILIC0003) that welcomes people with no experience, gives you plenty of time driving, and puts your test on a separate day. At FMS Training that course is $499 on a weekday or $599 on a weekend at our Lawnton training centre in north Brisbane: the theory is done online before you arrive, you spend many hours on the forklifts on your training day, and your test is on a separate day, both booked when you pay. Your first re-sit is free. RTO 45189.
In Queensland you need a high risk work licence from WorkSafe Queensland to drive a forklift at work, and to apply for it you must first pass a formal assessment through a Registered Training Organisation. There is no separate beginner licence: everyone does the same course. What changes from one provider to the next is how much time you get on the forklift, how the test day is set up, and what happens if you are nervous or need another go.
Four questions every beginner should ask before booking
| Ask the provider | FMS Training’s answer |
|---|---|
| Do you regularly train people who have never driven a forklift? | Yes. We train complete beginners every week, with patient, welcoming instructors. |
| How many hours of actual forklift driving will I get? | Many hours on the training day. The theory is done online before you arrive, so the day is spent on the forklifts. |
| How many students are there per forklift? | We keep excellent student to forklift ratios, so you are driving, not waiting. |
| If I struggle with the test, is extra help included? | Yes. Extra practice before your test is included at no extra cost, and your first re-sit is free. |
“I’ve been told to avoid one-day courses.” Is this one?
No. The FMS Training course runs over two days: a full training day on the forklifts, then your test on a separate day, both booked when you pay. That gap matters for beginners: you get to sleep on what you learned and come back fresh for the assessment, instead of going from your first drive to your test in one sitting. Read more: is a one-day forklift course enough?
What your course looks like if you have never 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. Watch and rewatch them as often as you like, so you arrive with a good foundation.
- Training day (starts 7:30am): no PowerPoint or classroom on the day. You spend many hours on a range of forklift models, handling loads, with excellent student to forklift ratios. The training is competency based, and our trainers make sure you are operating safely before you move on.
- Test day (starts 6:30am): your assessment is on a separate day, already booked when you pay, so you know your test date from the start.
- 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.
- Not a confident reader or writer? A plain-English oral assessment option is available. Tell us when you book.
- 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. You must be 18 or older. See forklift licence eligibility and what to bring.
Why beginners choose FMS Training
- Built for people who have never driven a forklift, with patient, welcoming instructors.
- Many hours on the forklifts on your training day.
- Training day and test day booked together when you pay.
- Your first re-sit is free.
- Weekday and weekend classes (Saturday training, Sunday test).
- Lawnton, in Moreton Bay, is an easy drive from Strathpine, Petrie, Kallangur, North Lakes, Narangba and Caboolture.
- 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 to get a forklift licence in Queensland, is the forklift test hard to pass?, forklift licence for warehouse jobs and weekend forklift course in Brisbane.
Questions beginners ask
Do I need any forklift experience to do the course?
No. We train complete beginners every week. You need to be 18 or older, bring 100 points of ID and have a Unique Student Identifier. The course is $499 weekday or $599 weekend at FMS Training in Lawnton. RTO 45189.
Is the FMS Training forklift course a one-day course?
No. It runs over two days: a full training day on the forklifts, then your test on a separate day, both booked when you pay. You never go from your first drive to your assessment in one sitting.
How much driving will I get as a beginner?
Many hours on the forklifts on your training day. The theory is done before you arrive, with pre-course video guides and a training manual, so there is no PowerPoint or classroom on the day. If you need more practice before your test, it is included at no extra cost.
What happens if I fail the forklift test?
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. A plain-English oral assessment option is also available if reading or writing is the barrier.
How much does a forklift licence cost in Brisbane for a beginner?
At FMS Training it is $499 on a weekday or $599 on a weekend for the training day and the separate test day, the same price whether you are new or experienced. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee of $113.41 is paid separately to WorkSafe after you pass.