You can do part of a working at heights course online, but not all of it. The theory can be studied online, but to get a nationally recognised working at heights ticket (RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights) you must also do a practical session in person, where an assessor watches you work safely at heights with real equipment.
Key facts at a glance
- A 100 percent online working at heights course cannot give you the nationally recognised unit RIIWHS204E.
- The national assessment rules require you to show you can work safely at heights on at least two occasions, using personal protective equipment and height safety equipment.
- Hybrid courses are the middle ground: theory online at home, then a shorter practical session face to face.
- At FMS Training the course is $310: about half a day of theory online, then a half-day practical at our Lawnton training centre in north Brisbane.
- Already hold RIIWHS204E or RIIWHS204D? The refresher is the same price, $310, and runs the same hybrid way.
Book your working at heights course online
Why can’t a working at heights ticket be done fully online?
To issue RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights, a registered training organisation must follow the unit’s published assessment requirements on training.gov.au. Those requirements say the learner must demonstrate working safely at heights on at least two occasions, and that the assessment must include access to personal protective equipment, height safety equipment and the relevant documents.
A video call or an online quiz cannot show an assessor that you can do the work. That is why a course sold as fully online, with no practical session, should make you ask what you will actually receive at the end. If it is not a Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E from a registered training organisation, most Queensland sites will not accept it as a working at heights ticket.
Online, hybrid or face to face: what’s the difference?
| Format | What you do | Nationally recognised RIIWHS204E? |
|---|---|---|
| Fully online | Videos and quizzes only, no practical session | No. Usually an awareness or induction certificate only |
| Hybrid (how FMS Training runs it) | Theory and theory assessment online at home, then a half-day practical session in person | Yes, once you pass both parts |
| Fully face to face | Theory and practical in a classroom and training area, usually a full day | Yes, once you pass |
Hybrid suits most people who work full time: you do the reading when it suits you, and you only take half a day off for the practical.
How does the FMS Training hybrid course work?
- Book your practical date on the course page.
- Do the theory and theory assessment online at home. Allow about half a day. It must be finished before your practical session.
- Come to Lawnton for the practical. The half-day session starts at 12pm at our training centre in north Brisbane, close to Strathpine, Petrie, North Lakes and Brendale. All practical equipment (harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, fall-arrest systems and personal protective equipment) is provided on the day.
- Receive your Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights once you have passed.
Groups can also do the practical at their own workplace. Ask us for an onsite quote on 1300 699 150.
Why people choose FMS Training for their heights ticket
- Only half a day off work. Theory at home when it suits you, then an afternoon practical.
- Everything provided. Just bring yourself, enclosed shoes and your ID.
- North Brisbane location. Lawnton is easy to reach from Strathpine, Petrie, North Lakes, Brendale and the rest of Moreton Bay.
- A trusted local trainer. Outstanding Education Service winner at the 2025 and 2026 Moreton Bay Local Business Awards, with a 4.9-star Google rating.
Can I do a working at heights refresher online?
The same rule applies. If your employer or site wants a refresher that shows current competency, it needs a practical part. Our refresher is for people who already hold RIIWHS204E or the earlier RIIWHS204D: theory online, then a half-day practical at Lawnton, for $310, the same as the full course. A working at heights ticket does not expire in Queensland, so read does a working at heights ticket expire? before you book a refresher you may not need.
How much does it cost?
At FMS Training the full working at heights course and the refresher are both $310. There is no extra licence fee: working at heights is not a high risk work licence, so you do not apply to WorkSafe Queensland afterwards. Your Statement of Attainment is the ticket. For a fuller comparison, see how much a working at heights course costs in Brisbane.
$310, course or refresher. Theory online at home, then a half-day practical in person at our Lawnton training centre, north Brisbane. See the next practical dates on the course page.
Nationally recognised training, RTO 45189, 4.9-star Google rating.
Book your working at heights course online
Frequently asked questions
Is an online working at heights certificate valid in Queensland?
A certificate from a course with no practical session is not the nationally recognised unit RIIWHS204E, so most Queensland sites will not accept it as a working at heights ticket.
How long is the practical session at FMS Training?
About half a day, starting at 12pm at Lawnton, after you have finished the online theory at home.
Do I need to bring my own harness?
No. All practical equipment is provided on the day. Bring enclosed shoes and your ID.
Source: training.gov.au, RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights, Assessment Requirements. Last updated 29 October 2026. FMS Training, RTO 45189.