Yes. At FMS Training in Lawnton, north Brisbane, you can get your forklift licence over a weekend: you train on Saturday and sit your test on Sunday, both booked when you pay. The weekend forklift course is $599, your first re-sit is free if you need one, and you then apply to WorkSafe Queensland for the licence itself.
Weekend classes are built for people who can’t take two days off during the working week: shift workers, people starting a new job on Monday, and anyone who would lose pay by booking weekdays. You learn on the same forklifts, with the same excellent student to forklift ratios, and sit the same nationally recognised assessment (TLILIC0003 Licence to Operate a Forklift Truck) as the weekday course. Weekend dates are fewer than weekday dates, so they tend to fill first.
Weekend or weekday: how the two options compare
| Weekend course | Weekday course | |
|---|---|---|
| Training day | Saturday, 7:30am to about 5pm | Monday, Wednesday or Thursday |
| Test day | Sunday, from 6:30am | A separate day the same week (for example Monday training, Tuesday test) |
| FMS course price | $599 | $499 |
| First re-sit | Free | Free |
| Both days booked when you pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student to forklift ratio | Excellent | Excellent |
| Theory | Done online before the course | Done online before the course |
| Where | Lawnton training centre, north Brisbane | Lawnton training centre, north Brisbane |
| WorkSafe Queensland licence fee | Paid separately to WorkSafe | Paid separately to WorkSafe |
Sunday finish times vary, because they depend on the order people sit their practical test. Plan to have the whole morning free. If you live north of the river, Lawnton is an easy drive from North Lakes, Petrie, Strathpine, Kallangur, Deception Bay, Redcliffe and Caboolture, and weekend traffic makes it quicker again.
Is a weekend course enough if I’ve never driven a forklift?
Yes. The course is built for complete beginners, and no forklift experience is needed. You do the theory online at home before Saturday, so most of the training day is spent on the forklifts. If you need more practice before your test, extra training is included at no extra cost. Because the test is on a separate day, you go home on Saturday night, sleep on it, and come back fresh.
What to have ready before Saturday
- You must be 18 or older.
- A Unique Student Identifier (USI). You can get one free from the USI website in a few minutes.
- Three forms of identification, one with a photo. Our identification checklist lists what counts.
- Enclosed shoes (joggers, sneakers or steel caps). No thongs or sandals.
- The online theory finished before you arrive.
After you pass on Sunday
Passing the course is step one. Step two is the licence: you apply online to WorkSafe Queensland within 60 days of passing your practical assessment, and pay WorkSafe’s licence fee directly to them. Keep your Candidate Assessment Summary and your proof of payment. WorkSafe Queensland says these are your evidence that you can lawfully do the work while your application is decided. Your plastic licence card arrives by post later.
For the full step-by-step on applying, see how to get a forklift licence in Queensland. If you’re comparing course lengths, read is a one-day forklift course enough.
Common questions
Can I do the whole forklift licence in one weekend?
The course, yes: Saturday training and Sunday test. The licence itself is then issued by WorkSafe Queensland after you apply online.
Why does the weekend course cost more?
Weekend classes cost more to run. The weekend price is $599 and the weekday price is $499; everything else about the course is the same, including the free first re-sit.
What happens if I don’t pass on Sunday?
Your first re-sit is free. We book it with you for the next available test day.
Can my employer book me into a weekend class?
Yes. Companies can book online or ask us for an invoice by phoning 1300 699 150.
Why people choose FMS Training for weekend classes
- Training day and test day are both booked the moment you pay, so you know your Sunday test date before you start.
- Your first re-sit is free.
- Most of Saturday 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.
Book online: see the next weekend dates
Sources: WorkSafe Queensland, Apply for a high risk work licence; training.gov.au, TLILIC0003 Licence to operate a forklift truck. Last checked 2 November 2026. FMS Training, RTO 45189.