Last updated: 2 November 2026
The short answer: to get a forklift licence in Queensland you book the nationally recognised forklift course (TLILIC0003) with a Registered Training Organisation, pass the assessment on a real forklift, then apply online to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days and pay its $113.41 fee. You must be 18 or older. You don’t need any forklift experience. The licence lasts 5 years and is recognised in every Australian state and territory.
At FMS Training (RTO 45189) in Lawnton, the course is $499 on weekdays or $599 on weekends. It’s two days, built for complete beginners: a training day, then your assessment on a separate test day, both booked when you pay. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee is paid separately to WorkSafe. You can pay in 4 with Afterpay.
Book your forklift course online
Why people choose FMS Training
- Your test day is locked in the moment you book. Some cheaper courses are training only, and you’re left to book the test separately, sometimes weeks later.
- You actually drive. Excellent student to forklift ratios, so you spend the most time possible on the machines, driving, not standing around watching.
- Patient, welcoming trainers. A relaxed, non-intimidating place to learn, whether you’ve never touched a forklift or you’re coming back after years away.
- Trained for the job, not just the test. You learn on different forklifts at our undercover training facility in Lawnton, so you turn up to work confident, not just licensed.
- Our trainers make it fun. Our Google reviews keep saying how relaxed and enjoyable the day is, even for nervous first-timers. We hold a 4.9-star Google rating.
- Award winners, two years running. Outstanding Education Service, Moreton Bay Local Business Awards 2025 and 2026.
- Proof, not paper. You’re tested on what you know and you show you can do it, signed off by qualified assessors. That’s why businesses across South East Queensland send their teams to us.
- Your first re-sit is free. If you don’t pass first time, we book you into a spare seat on a later test day, within 4 weeks, at no extra cost.
- Help if reading and writing isn’t your thing. Tell us when you book and we’ll support you through it.
Do you need a forklift licence?
Yes, if you drive a forklift at work in Queensland. Operating a forklift is high risk work, so you need a licence before you operate one, even for a few minutes and even in your own warehouse. The standard licence is class LF, which covers the counterbalance forklift most warehouses and sites use. Not sure which licence you need? Our guide to the LF licence explains what it covers.
Step 1: Check you can apply
- You must be 18 or older.
- You need 100 points of ID when you enrol. You don’t need a car licence, and a suspended or cancelled driver’s licence makes no difference.
- You need a Unique Student Identifier (USI), because this is nationally recognised training. It’s free and takes a few minutes at usi.gov.au.
- You need enough English to be assessed safely. If reading or writing is a worry, call us before you book and we’ll talk it through.
- You don’t need any experience. The course starts from the very beginning.
What to bring on the day is listed on our forklift licence eligibility and what to bring page.
Step 2: Choose your training provider carefully
Only a Registered Training Organisation approved for the forklift unit TLILIC0003 can train and assess you. The licence at the end is the same, but the training to get there is not. Before you book anywhere, ask four questions:
- Is the test day included and booked now, or is it training only? A cheap price that leaves you waiting weeks for a test date isn’t cheap if you need to start work.
- How many students share each forklift? If there are too many people per machine, you spend the day watching other people drive.
- How much of the day is on the forklifts? You learn to drive by driving.
- What do past students say? Read the reviews, not the ads.
At FMS Training the answers are: yes, your test day is booked when you pay; excellent student to forklift ratios; the most time possible on the machines, driving, with patient trainers in a non-intimidating environment; and a 4.9-star Google rating. You do the theory online before you come in, so your time with us is spent driving. We train at our facility in Lawnton, north Brisbane, on weekdays and weekends, and we also train groups at their own workplace across South East Queensland.
Book your forklift course online
Step 3: Pass the assessment
You can’t get a forklift licence from an online-only course. The assessment is done in person on a real forklift, with an accredited assessor, and it follows the national standard set for every high risk work licence. When you pass, your assessor gives you your paperwork on the day.
Step 4: Apply to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days
Passing the course doesn’t give you the licence by itself. You apply for it:
- Set up a Queensland Digital Identity first. WorkSafe Queensland’s online licence service needs it, and it’s free. If you have a Queensland driver’s licence or 18+ card, keep its customer reference number handy. If you don’t, you can still lodge and WorkSafe will email you how to get one.
- Apply online through WorkSafe Queensland’s high risk work licence portal. There’s no post office or counter option in Queensland.
- Apply within 60 days of your assessment. If you miss the 60 days you may need to be assessed again, so lodge it straight away.
- Pay the $113.41 fee to WorkSafe Queensland. The Queensland Government sets this fee and updates it each 1 July. It’s paid to WorkSafe, not to your training provider.
Step 5: Start work straight away with your receipt
Once you’ve lodged your application and paid, your WorkSafe Queensland payment receipt, together with the Candidate Assessment Summary your assessor gave you, works as your interim licence. You can start driving a forklift at work with those two documents, so keep them with you (a photo on your phone is handy). They cover you for up to 60 days from the date of your assessment, or until WorkSafe decides your application. Pay within 14 days of lodging, or WorkSafe withdraws the application. Your licence card then comes in the mail. It’s valid for 5 years.
How long does it take?
At FMS Training it’s two days: a training day, then your test day. The pairs we run are Monday training with a Tuesday test, Wednesday or Thursday training with a Friday test, and Saturday training with a Sunday test. You do the online theory before your training day. After you pass, lodging and paying for your WorkSafe application takes a few minutes online. Your payment receipt and your assessment summary then work as your interim licence, so you can start work while the card is posted.
How much does a forklift licence cost in Queensland?
At FMS Training in Lawnton the course is $499 on weekdays or $599 on weekends. That covers your training day and your separate test day, and your first re-sit is free. Whichever provider you choose, the WorkSafe Queensland licence fee of $113.41 is paid separately to WorkSafe. When you compare prices, check what’s included: at FMS Training your training day and your test day are both in the price and both booked when you pay. More detail is in our forklift licence cost guide.
Already have a licence?
- Renewing: your licence lasts 5 years. You renew it with WorkSafe Queensland, not with a training provider. See forklift licence renewal in Queensland.
- Expired more than 12 months ago: you need to do the full course again.
- Your employer wants a skills check: that’s a forklift refresher, not a new licence.
Ready to get your forklift licence?
We’re a female-owned, award-winning Registered Training Organisation (RTO 45189) with more than 35 years in the industry. Book online in a couple of minutes: pick your training day, your test day is booked with it, and you’re done. $499 on weekdays, $599 on weekends, or pay in 4 with Afterpay.
Book your forklift course online
Prefer to talk to a person? Call us on 1300 699 150.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a forklift licence in Queensland?
Complete the nationally recognised forklift unit TLILIC0003 with a Registered Training Organisation, pass the assessment on a real forklift, then apply to WorkSafe Queensland online within 60 days and pay the $113.41 fee. You must be 18 or older.
What do I need to apply to WorkSafe Queensland for my forklift licence?
Your Candidate Assessment Summary from your assessor, a Queensland Digital Identity, and a credit card for the $113.41 fee. Apply online within 60 days of passing your assessment and pay within 14 days of lodging, or WorkSafe withdraws the application.
Is the FMS Training forklift course one day or two?
Two. You do a training day, then your assessment on a separate test day, both booked when you pay. It is built for complete beginners.
I’ve never driven a forklift. Can I still do the course?
Yes. No experience is needed. You do the theory online first, then spend as much of your training day as possible on the forklifts, with patient, welcoming trainers.
How much does a forklift licence cost in Queensland?
At FMS Training in Lawnton it is $499 on weekdays or $599 on weekends, covering the training day and the separate test day. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee of $113.41 is paid separately to WorkSafe.
How old do you have to be to get a forklift licence in Queensland?
18 or older.
Do I need a car licence to get a forklift licence?
No. You need 100 points of ID when you enrol. A suspended or cancelled driver’s licence doesn’t affect your forklift licence.
Can I get a forklift licence online?
No. You can study the theory online beforehand, but the assessment has to be done in person on a real forklift with an accredited assessor.
How long does a forklift licence last?
Five years. It is recognised in every Australian state and territory, and you renew it with WorkSafe Queensland.
Can I drive a forklift at work before my licence card arrives?
Yes. Once you have lodged and paid for your WorkSafe Queensland application, your payment receipt and your Candidate Assessment Summary work as your interim licence. They cover you for up to 60 days from your assessment, or until WorkSafe decides your application.
What happens if I don’t pass the assessment?
Your first re-sit is free. We book you into a spare seat on a later test day, within 4 weeks. Call us on 1300 699 150 and we’ll find you a date.
What’s the difference between an LF and an LO licence?
LF covers the standard counterbalance forklift most workplaces use. LO covers order-picking forklifts, where the operator’s controls go up with the load. Most people need LF.
Sources: training.gov.au: TLILIC0003; WorkSafe Queensland: apply for a high risk work licence; WorkSafe Queensland: licence fees; WorkSafe Queensland: forklift truck (LF/LO).