EWP licence in NSW: when you need one and when you don’t
The WP high risk work licence covers boom-type EWPs with a boom of 11 metres or more. Scissor lifts and smaller booms need training, not a licence.
Updated 2026-09-29
What the licence covers
The WP class of high risk work licence is required to operate a boom-type elevating work platform where the boom length is 11 metres or more. The unit behind it is TLILIC0005 Licence to operate a boom-type elevating work platform (boom length 11 metres or more).
SafeWork NSW’s code of practice for elevating work platforms, which took effect on 10 July 2026, defines boom length as the greater of:
- the vertical distance from the surface supporting the EWP to the platform floor, with the platform at maximum height, or
- the horizontal distance from the centre of the boom’s rotation to the outer edge of the platform, at maximum reach.
A telehandler fitted with a personnel box, with controls in the box and at the ground, counts as an EWP — and needs the licence if its boom is 11 metres or more. A forklift fitted with a work platform is not an EWP and, the code says, should not be used in place of one.
When you don’t need a licence
Scissor lifts, vertical mast lifts and boom-type EWPs under 11 metres do not need a high risk work licence. The business must still give operators information, training and instruction — including familiarisation with the specific machine, how to do pre-start checks and keep the log book, and how to communicate with spotters and safety observers. Providers run short courses for these machines, sometimes sold as a “Yellow Card”; that is evidence of training, not a licence.
Getting the WP licence
- Be 18 or over.
- Train with an RTO that holds TLILIC0005 on its scope of registration. Most courses listed here run 3 days; combined courses add scissor lifts and smaller booms.
- Be assessed by a SafeWork NSW accredited assessor — the RTO arranges this.
- Apply through Service NSW within 60 days of your Notice of Satisfactory Assessment. The licence fee is set by SafeWork NSW.
Cost
Providers listed on this site advertise a median of about $675, with the middle half between $588 and $758. See the full EWP price analysis.
Renewal
The licence is valid for 5 years. Renew online through Service NSW before it expires or up to 12 months after; SafeWork NSW sends a reminder about 60 days out.
Find EWP licence courses · High risk work licences explained
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a licence to drive a scissor lift?
- No. A high risk work licence is only required for a boom-type elevating work platform with a boom length of 11 metres or more. For scissor lifts, vertical lifts and smaller booms the business must give you information, training and instruction, including familiarisation with the machine you will use.
- How is the 11 metre boom length measured?
- SafeWork NSW’s code of practice uses the greater of two measurements: the vertical distance from the ground to the platform floor at maximum height, or the horizontal distance from the centre of the boom’s rotation to the outer edge of the platform at maximum reach.
- How much does an EWP licence course cost in NSW?
- Providers listed here advertise a median of about $675, with the middle half between $588 and $758. The SafeWork NSW licence fee is paid separately at Service NSW.
- How long does the WP licence last?
- Five years. You can renew online through Service NSW before it expires or up to 12 months after.