TL;DR: TLILIC0003 — “Licence to operate a forklift truck” — is the nationally recognised unit of competency behind every forklift (LF) licence in Australia. You complete it with a Registered Training Organisation like FMS Training (RTO 45189), pass the mandated national assessment, then apply to WorkSafe Queensland for your high-risk work licence within 60 days. The licence is valid Australia-wide.
Last updated: 12 June 2026
If you’ve been told you need “TLILIC0003” to get forklift work, here’s what that code actually means — and the exact steps from booking a course to holding your licence card.
TLILIC0003 in one sentence
TLILIC0003 is the official code on the national training register for the unit of competency called Licence to operate a forklift truck. Every Registered Training Organisation in Australia that offers forklift licence training delivers this same unit — so a forklift course in Lawnton teaches and assesses the same nationally set standard as one anywhere else in the country.
Who needs it
Under Australian work health and safety law, operating a forklift is classed as high-risk work. That means you must hold a high-risk work licence — class LF for a standard counterbalance forklift — before you can operate one at work, even briefly, even in your own warehouse. TLILIC0003 is the training and assessment pathway to that LF licence.
You’ll need it if you’re:
- Starting in warehousing, logistics, transport, construction or manufacturing where forklifts are used
- A labourer or tradesperson who’s been asked to “jump on the forklift”
- An employer putting team members through their tickets
- Restarting a career after time away — if your licence lapsed more than 12 months ago, you generally need to be assessed again
Note: a standard LF licence covers counterbalance forklifts. Order-picking forklifts (stock pickers) need a separate LO class licence with its own unit.
What the unit covers
TLILIC0003 sets out the skills and knowledge you must demonstrate to operate a forklift safely and lawfully. In practical terms, the course covers:
- Planning the work and assessing the area for hazards (people, ground surfaces, overhead obstructions)
- Conducting pre-operational and operational checks on the forklift
- Shifting loads safely — assessing weight, load centres and stability
- Driving and manoeuvring with and without loads
- Shutting down and securing the forklift
- The legal duties that come with a high-risk work licence
How the assessment works
You can’t get an LF licence from an online-only course. The unit requires assessment against the National Assessment Instrument — the standardised assessment mandated by the work health and safety regulator — and it must be done in real workplace conditions (simulators aren’t permitted). The assessment has three parts:
- Knowledge — written questions on safe operation and the rules
- Calculations — load capacity questions
- Practical — operating the forklift through set tasks while an accredited assessor observes
At FMS Training the structure is one day of training followed by assessment, at our Lawnton training yard (north Brisbane) or on site at your workplace for groups. Current dates and pricing are on the forklift licence course page.
What happens after you pass — the Queensland licence application
Passing the course does not automatically give you the licence. Here’s the part most people don’t realise:
- You receive a Statement of Attainment and a completed assessment summary from your assessor on the day you pass.
- You apply to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days of passing your practical assessment, online through the high-risk work licence portal. You’ll need photo identification.
- You pay WorkSafe’s application fee — currently $109.71 per licence class (set by the Queensland Government; re-indexed each 1 July).
- You can work while you wait. Your assessment summary plus proof of your lodged application let you lawfully operate a forklift for up to 60 days from assessment, or until WorkSafe decides your application.
- Your licence card arrives and is valid for 5 years, Australia-wide.
Miss the 60-day window and you may have to be re-assessed — so lodge the application straight away.
Entry requirements
- You must be 18 or older to hold a high-risk work licence
- You need enough English to work safely (the assessment includes written questions — if reading and writing is a worry, talk to us before booking; support is available)
- No prior forklift experience is required for the course
Why train with FMS Training
FMS Training (Forklift, Machinery and Safety Training) is a female-owned Registered Training Organisation — RTO 45189 — with 35+ years of industry experience behind the business and a 4.9-star rating from more than 1,261 reviews. Training runs from our dedicated yard at 1/42 Paisley Drive, Lawnton (north Brisbane), with weekday, weekend and on-site options across South East Queensland.
See forklift course dates and book →
Frequently asked questions
Is TLILIC0003 the same as a forklift licence?
Not quite. TLILIC0003 is the nationally recognised training unit; the forklift (LF) high-risk work licence is what WorkSafe Queensland issues after you complete the unit, pass the national assessment and lodge your application. You need the first to get the second.
How long does the TLILIC0003 course take?
At FMS Training, one day of training followed by assessment. Total time can vary between providers and with your prior experience.
How much does it cost all up?
Course fees vary by provider and promotion — current FMS Training pricing is on the forklift course page. On top of that, WorkSafe Queensland charges a $109.71 licence application fee (current rate, re-indexed each July).
Can I do TLILIC0003 online?
No. Pre-course theory can be studied online, but the unit’s assessment must be conducted in person, on a real forklift, by an accredited assessor. Be wary of any provider claiming otherwise.
Is the licence valid outside Queensland?
Yes. A high-risk work licence issued in Queensland is recognised in every Australian state and territory, and it’s valid for 5 years.
What’s the difference between LF and LO?
LF covers counterbalance forklifts (the standard type). LO covers order-picking forklifts where the operator’s platform raises with the load. They’re separate licence classes with separate training units — TLILIC0003 is the LF unit.
I passed my assessment — how long do I have to apply for the licence?
60 days from your practical assessment. During that window your assessment paperwork lets you work lawfully while WorkSafe processes the application.
Regulatory sources: training.gov.au — TLILIC0003, WorkSafe Queensland — Apply for a high risk work licence, WorkSafe Queensland — Licence fees.