Last updated: 13 October 2026
No. A working at heights ticket does not expire in Queensland. The ticket is your Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights, and neither the unit nor any Queensland law gives it an expiry date. What can change is whether a particular employer or site accepts it: some ask for recent training, and that is what a refresher is for.
Key facts at a glance
- A working at heights ticket is a Statement of Attainment, not a licence. WorkSafe Queensland does not issue a working at heights licence.
- It has no expiry date. Queensland’s falls Code of Practice does not set a refresher interval.
- Employers must give workers training that suits the work and its risks, so some sites set their own “recent training” rule.
- FMS Training’s refresher is the same price as the full course, $310 for anyone who holds the same unit (RIIWHS204E) or an equivalent unit (RIIWHS204D). There is no time limit on when it was issued.
- Never trained? The full course is $310: theory online, then a half-day practical at Lawnton, Brisbane.
Book your working at heights course or refresher
What is a working at heights ticket?
“Working at heights ticket” is the everyday name for a Statement of Attainment in the nationally recognised unit RIIWHS204E Work safely at heights. A registered training organisation issues it once you have been assessed competent. It is evidence of training, not a government licence. That is different from a high risk work licence, such as the licence for a boom-type elevating work platform of 11 metres or more, which WorkSafe Queensland issues and which does run for a fixed period.
So why do some sites ask for a recent ticket?
Under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld), a business must give its workers information, training and instruction that is suitable and adequate for the work and its risks. Queensland’s Managing the risk of falls at workplaces Code of Practice 2021 explains the falls duty but does not set a fixed refresher interval.
So the rule comes from the workplace, not the law. A principal contractor, mine site or facility manager can ask for training completed within a set number of years, especially if you have been away from height work or the equipment has changed. If your site induction asks for this, a refresher gives you a new, dated Statement of Attainment.
Check before you book: ask your employer or site exactly what they accept. If your current ticket meets their rule, you do not need to retrain.
Which do I need: a refresher or the full course?
| Your situation | What it means | FMS Training option |
|---|---|---|
| Never done working at heights training | You need the full unit | Full course RIIWHS204E, $310 |
| Hold a RIIWHS204E Statement of Attainment | Your ticket is still valid; retrain only if your site asks | Refresher, $310 (same as the full course) |
| Hold the earlier unit RIIWHS204D | Equivalent unit (training.gov.au), still valid | Refresher, $310 (same as the full course) |
| Only have a wallet card | Accepted only if it meets Statement of Attainment requirements; a USI transcript showing its QR verification code also works | Refresher if you can show the unit; otherwise the full course |
| Need to operate an elevating work platform | A different ticket or licence | See the EWP ticket guide |
How does the refresher work at FMS Training?
The refresher runs in a similar way to the full course, modified for workers who already hold the unit: theory online first, then a practical session face to face at our Lawnton training centre in north Brisbane. Group bookings can be trained at your workplace.
The refresher is open to anyone who holds the same unit or an equivalent unit, with no time limit on when it was issued. To enrol you need three things: a Statement of Attainment from a registered training organisation showing RIIWHS204E or RIIWHS204D, photo ID such as your driver’s licence, and your Unique Student Identifier. On completion you receive a new nationally recognised Statement of Attainment from FMS Training, RTO 45189.
Want to compare costs first? Read how much a working at heights course costs in Brisbane.
Work safely at heights (RIIWHS204E), Nationally recognised, RTO 45189, 4.9-star Google rating.
Full course $310. Refresher $310 if you hold RIIWHS204E or the equivalent RIIWHS204D (no time limit).
Where: theory online, then a half-day practical in person at Lawnton, Brisbane (or at your workplace for groups).
Frequently asked questions
How long does a working at heights ticket last?
It has no expiry date. Your RIIWHS204E Statement of Attainment stays valid, but an employer or site can ask for more recent training.
Is there a law that says I must do a refresher every two years?
No Queensland law sets a refresher interval. Employers must provide suitable and adequate training, so some sites set their own rule.
Can I do the refresher if my certificate is old?
Yes. There is no time limit. The refresher is for anyone who holds the same unit (RIIWHS204E) or an equivalent unit (RIIWHS204D), no matter when it was issued. If your ticket is for a different unit, you do the full course.
Does a working at heights ticket let me drive a scissor lift or boom lift?
No. Operating an elevating work platform is a separate ticket, and booms of 11 metres or more need a high risk work licence.