How to Get a Forklift Licence in QLD

How Does It Work?

The good news is, it's pretty straightforward. There are a few steps to go through, but once you know how it all works, there's really nothing complicated about it.

First up, what licence are you actually getting?

In Queensland, a forklift licence is called a High Risk Work Licence – LF class.

To get one, you need to complete TLILIC0003 – Licence to Operate a Forklift Truck through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

It's a nationally recognised course, which means the licence and assessment requirements are the same no matter which RTO you train with. What can be quite different, though, is how the training is delivered and how well you're prepared for the assessment.

Are you a beginner or already experienced?

That's probably the first question to ask.

Have you driven a forklift before, or are you starting from scratch?

If you're new to forklifts or you've only had a little bit of experience, WorkSAFE Training offers a two-day course. It gives you that extra time on the first day to review your theory studies and take time to learn the forklift controls, practise operating safely and get comfortable before you're assessed.

If you've already got solid forklift experience from a previous job or working on site, you may be better suited to our one-day Fast Track course.

The idea with Fast Track isn't to teach an experienced operator everything from the beginning. It's about making sure your existing skills are up to the required standard, filling in any gaps and then completing the assessment.

Book your course and do the pre-course work

Once you've chosen the right course and booked your date, you'll receive a confirmation email with your course information and study materials.

You'll also receive practice questions to work through before you come in.

It's worth spending some time on these. They're designed to get you familiar with the theory before you arrive, so when you're here we can concentrate more on the practical side, answer any questions you've got and get you ready for the assessment.

You'll also need a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

If you've done nationally recognised training in Australia before, there's a good chance you already have one. If you don't, you can create one online and it only takes a few minutes.

Come in for your training and assessment

On the day, make sure you're wearing enclosed footwear. You'll be operating real equipment, so that's a safety requirement.

You'll work through the practical forklift skills and then complete the required assessment.

The assessment includes theory, calculations and practical forklift operation.

You don't need to be great at maths or an academic to get through the course. But you do need enough written English and basic numeracy to understand things like safety instructions, load information and workplace procedures.

And if there's something you're unsure about during the training, ask. That's what the training is there for.

You've passed – what happens next?

Once you've successfully completed your assessment, you're almost there.

You'll receive the documentation you need to apply to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for your High Risk Work Licence.

There's a separate government licence application fee, and once your application is processed, your licence is valid for 5 years.

Your physical licence card may take a little while to arrive, so make sure you follow the instructions you're given after your assessment about what you can use as evidence in the meantime.

What if you don't pass the first time?

Don't panic. We offer a Guarantee: if you don't pass the first time, you can rebook a 2nd time for free.

Under our training guarantee, we don't charge you for additional training if you need some extra help to become competent.

Most people who have trouble the first time don't need to start all over again. They usually just need a bit more practice or help with a particular part of the assessment.

So, what's the process?

It's really pretty simple.

Choose the course that suits your experience, book your date, work through the pre-course material, bring your USI and enclosed footwear, complete your training and assessment, and once you've passed, apply for your High Risk Work Licence.

And remember, the whole point of the training isn't just to get a licence card.

It's to make sure that when you get onto a forklift at work, you know what you're doing and you can do it safely.

WorkSAFE Training (RTO 41345) delivers TLILIC0003 Forklift Truck training and assessment at Strathpine and Kingston, with courses running across South East Queensland and the Sunshine Coast. Beginner and experienced operator pathways available from $399 all inclusive. Call 0466 090 559 to book, or view our course dates.