A high risk work licence is the photo licence you must hold before you do certain dangerous jobs in Queensland, such as driving a forklift, operating a crane or doing scaffolding. You get one by passing the nationally recognised course for that class with a registered training organisation, then applying online to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days of your practical assessment.
Key facts at a glance
- You must be 18 or older, and you need a separate licence class for each type of high risk work.
- Training and assessment are done by a registered training organisation; the licence itself is issued by WorkSafe Queensland.
- Apply online within 60 days of passing your practical assessment. The WorkSafe Queensland fee is $113.41 per class, paid to WorkSafe, not to your trainer.
- The licence lasts 5 years and is generally recognised across Australia.
- The most common class in Brisbane is the forklift licence (class LF, unit TLILIC0003).
What work needs a high risk work licence?
Safe Work Australia lists the work that needs a licence. If your job involves any of the following, you need the matching licence class before you start, even for a few minutes and even on private property that is a workplace.
| Type of high risk work | Examples of licence classes | Training at FMS Training |
|---|---|---|
| Operating a forklift truck | Forklift (LF) | Yes: in person at Lawnton, north Brisbane, or on site for groups |
| Operating a boom-type elevating work platform with a boom over 11 metres | Boom-type elevating work platform (WP) | On site for groups |
| Scaffolding work | Basic, intermediate and advanced scaffolding | Not offered |
| Dogging and rigging work | Dogging, basic to advanced rigging | Not offered |
| Operating certain cranes and hoists | Slewing mobile cranes, vehicle loading cranes, hoists and others | Not offered |
| Operating a reach stacker | Reach stacker | Not offered |
| Operating a boiler, steam turbine or reciprocating steam engine | Pressure equipment classes | Not offered |
A scissor lift, or a boom lift with a boom of 11 metres or less, does not need a high risk work licence. Employers still have to make sure operators are trained and competent, which is usually done with a nationally recognised elevating work platform course.
How do you get a high risk work licence in Queensland?
The steps are the same for every class:
- Check you are eligible. You must be 18 or older and able to complete the theory and practical assessment.
- Book the course for your class with a registered training organisation approved to deliver it. For a forklift that is TLILIC0003 Licence to operate a forklift truck.
- Pass the assessment. A Queensland accredited assessor checks your theory and your practical work on real equipment. A licence cannot be gained from an online-only course.
- Keep your Candidate Assessment Summary. Your assessor gives you this when you pass. You need it to apply.
- Apply online to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days of your practical assessment, and pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard. Queensland applications are lodged online.
- Work while you wait. Once you have lodged on time, your Candidate Assessment Summary and proof of payment let you lawfully do that work for up to 60 days from when the summary was issued, or until WorkSafe decides your application. Your photo licence card then arrives in the mail.
Miss the 60-day window and your assessment can no longer be used to apply, so you would need to be reassessed. Lodge it the same week you pass.
For the forklift licence step by step, including what happens on the training day and test day, read our guide on how to get a forklift licence in Queensland.
How much does a high risk work licence cost?
There are always two separate costs, paid to two different places: the course fee to your training organisation, and the licence fee to WorkSafe Queensland.
| Cost | Paid to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Forklift licence course (TLILIC0003) at FMS Training, Lawnton | FMS Training | $499 weekday, $599 weekend (first re-sit free) |
| New high risk work licence, for each class | WorkSafe Queensland | $113.41 |
| Licence renewal (every 5 years) | WorkSafe Queensland | $102.99 |
| Replacement licence card | WorkSafe Queensland | $44.92 |
WorkSafe Queensland fees are from its licence fees page, read on 19 October 2026, and are indexed each year. No training organisation can include the WorkSafe fee in its course price, because you pay it yourself when you apply.
How long does a high risk work licence last?
Five years. WorkSafe Queensland usually sends a renewal notice before it expires, and renewing on time does not need a new course. If your licence has been expired for more than 12 months, you have to retrain and be reassessed. Our forklift licence renewal guide explains the 12-month rule in full.
Can I use a high risk work licence from another state?
Yes, in most cases. A current photo high risk work licence issued in another Australian state or territory is generally recognised in Queensland. If you move here, a photo licence that has not been expired for more than 12 months can usually be transferred to a Queensland licence. Check with WorkSafe Queensland if you are unsure.
Which licence do most people in Brisbane need?
For warehouse, logistics, manufacturing and many construction jobs, the licence employers ask for is the forklift licence (class LF). It is also the class most people start with, because no forklift experience is needed to book the course.
At FMS Training you do the theory online before the course, spend most of your training day on the forklifts at our Lawnton training centre with excellent student to forklift ratios and patient, welcoming instructors, then sit your assessment on a separate test day. Both days are booked when you pay. Lawnton is close to Strathpine, Petrie, North Lakes, Brendale and the rest of Moreton Bay.
$499 weekday or $599 weekend, first re-sit free. In person at our Lawnton training centre, north Brisbane: a training day, then a separate test day, both booked when you pay. The WorkSafe Queensland licence fee of $113.41 is paid separately to WorkSafe.
See the next class dates on the course page.
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Why people choose FMS Training for their forklift licence
- Training day and test day are both booked the moment you pay.
- Your first re-sit is free.
- Most of the training day is spent driving forklifts, because the theory is done online beforehand.
- Winner of Outstanding Education Service, Moreton Bay Local Business Awards 2025 and 2026, with a 4.9-star Google rating.
- Female-owned, with more than 35 years in forklift training, at Lawnton for north Brisbane and Moreton Bay.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a forklift licence a high risk work licence?
Yes. In Queensland a forklift licence is a high risk work licence, class LF. You get it by passing TLILIC0003 with a registered training organisation, then applying to WorkSafe Queensland.
Can I do a high risk work licence course online?
Part of it. Some theory can be studied online before the course, but the assessment has to be done in person on real equipment with an accredited assessor.
Do I need a high risk work licence for a scissor lift?
No. A scissor lift, or a boom lift with a boom of 11 metres or less, does not need a high risk work licence, but operators still need to be trained and competent.
How many licence classes can I hold?
As many as you are trained and assessed for. Each class you hold is shown on your licence, and the WorkSafe Queensland fee applies to each new class.