A Licence to Perform High Risk Work is required for:
- forklift operation
- rigging and dogging work
- scaffolding work
- crane and hoist operation
- pressure equipment operation.
The Licence is recognised all around Australia as part of a national licensing system that was introduced in South Australia on 1 September 2010.
On this page:
Get a Licence for the first time or add a class
Converting a current certificate to the new national licence
Get a Licence for the first time or add a class
To obtain a Licence to Perform High Risk Work or add a new class to your existing licence, you must undertake the appropriate training.
To find a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), search the National Training Information Service website.
Once you have completed your training, you will be assessed by a registered assessor who is registered with SafeWork SA. Registered assessors must be affiliated with RTOs, so this may be arranged for you. See the list of registered assessors (PDF 43KB) by category of high risk work.
Your assessor will ask you to sign a declaration that you are over 18 years of age and have not previously been issued with a certificate for this class of work.
The assessment
During your assessment, you will be required to undertake a theory (written) exam and a practical test. Upon completion, your assessor will provide you with written feedback about your results - this is your Assessment Summary. If you have a successful assessment, your registered assessor will provide you with a:
- Notice of Satisfactory Assessment
- Tax Invoice.
Both of these documents are valid for 60 days only from the date of issue.
Paying for your new Licence
Take your Tax Invoice to a Service SA Customer Service Centre or an Australia Post PhotoCapture outlet. You also need to:
- show 100 points of identification
- provide your invoice and a sample signature
- pay $67 - or $36 if you are adding a class
- have your photograph taken.
Your application will then be processed and your new Licence to Perform High Risk Work will be posted to you.
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Converting a current certificate to the new national licence
Current certificates or 'tickets' remain valid but must be converted to the nationally recognised Licence to Perform High Risk Work over time.
Conversions will take place over five years, depending on the date of your oldest qualification. The oldest Certificate will expire first and any other qualifications will be converted at the same time.
To convert your 'ticket' to the new national licence, there are three simple steps:
Check the issue date of your oldest ticket.
Check its expiry date in the chart below.
Contact SafeWork SA on 1300 975 909 to start the conversion process.
Guide to conversion timeframes
| Date of issue or most recent endorsement | You must convert your qualifications before: |
| Before 3 April 1995 | 1 September 2011 |
| 4 April 1995 - 3 December 1998 | 1 September 2012 |
| 1 January 1999 - 31 December 2001 | 1 September 2013 |
| 1 January 2002 - 31 December 2004 | 1 September 2014 |
| 1 January 2005 - 31 August 2010 | 1 September 2015 |
The conversion process
Phone 1300 975 909, you will be asked for details about any certificates or 'tickets' issued to you before 3 April 1995.
For tickets issued before 3 April 1995
You'll receive an application package. The application pack will include an application form asking for details of your certificates as well as declaration forms that your employer will need to complete to verify that you have undertaken the relevant work during the past two years. You should send your completed application and declaration form/s to SafeWork SA, together with your original certificates. Once your application is successfully processed, SafeWork SA will then send you a tax invoice for payment (valid for 60 days from the date of issue).
Tickets issued after 3 April 1995
These tickets can be converted directly to the new licence, without providing additional evidence. When you call 1300 975 909, you will be asked to provide details of your current certificates. If all details are in order SafeWork SA will send you a tax invoice.
Paying for your new Licence
Simply take your Tax Invoice to a Service SA Customer Service Centre or an Australia Post PhotoCapture outlet within 60 days from the date of issue. You will need to:
- show 100 points of identification
- provide your invoice and a sample signature
- pay $67 - or $36 if you are adding a class
- have your photograph taken.
If you are applying to convert a forklift Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA) - Class LF, you must show your NSA for forklift operation at the time of payment.
Your application will then be processed and your new Licence to Perform High Risk Work will be posted to you.
Why do some applicants have to provide additional details?
The national system for the Licensing of High Risk Work will bring a range of older qualifications into the same system. A number of these older qualifications were provided under different legislation. This means if you hold one of these qualifications you will have to provide evidence of your current competency - in the form of a statement from your employer - or you may need to be assessed as competent by a Registered Assessor who is registered with SafeWork SA.
Email alerts
Register to receive email alerts on high risk work licensing.
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More information
Other websites
List of licence classes affected - SafeWork Australia - see the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work - Schedule for Licence Classes and Definitions (page 26)
Downloads
Overview (PDF 335KB) - SafeWork SA
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 418KB) - SafeWork SA
Obtaining or updating a licence (PDF 182KB) - SafeWork SA
Contact
SafeWork SA Help Centre
1300 365 255