Guides
How to check a NSW high risk work licence
High risk work in NSW — such as forklifts, scaffolding, dogging, rigging and many cranes — needs a SafeWork NSW high risk work licence for the right class. Employers can confirm a licence on the official Verify NSW register.
Checked against official sources on 10 November 2026. Always follow the official page, which may change.
SafeWork NSW says work with a high risk of injury or death is called high risk work, and there are 29 different licence classes. A person must have a licence to do this work, and can hold more than one class on the same licence.
Check it on Verify NSW
SafeWork NSW says to visit the public register Verify NSW to check NSW high risk work licence holder information. Search by the licence holder’s name and licence number. Confirm the licence is current, lists the class of work they will actually do, and matches the person’s name and photo.
SafeWork NSW also tells employers to check licences regularly. High risk work licence holders must have the licence available for inspection at all times. Once a licence is issued, a digital version is available in the Service NSW app, but SafeWork NSW says the digital licence does not replace the plastic card, which must still be kept available for inspection.
How long it lasts
A high risk work licence expires after 5 years and must be renewed if the person wants to keep doing that work. Any classes added later expire at the same time as the original licence. For example, SafeWork NSW says a licence issued in 2022 expires in 2027; a class added in 2023 also expires in 2027.
Renewal rules
- Renew before the licence expires. You cannot do high risk work on an expired licence.
- SafeWork NSW will email and/or text about 60 days before expiry.
- You must have maintained competency in each class you choose to renew. A class you do not select is removed.
- You can renew up to 12 months after expiry if you want to do the work again. After 12 months, you have to redo the training with an RTO, be reassessed, and submit a new application.
- If you submit the renewal before the licence expires, you can keep working as normal until you receive the renewal confirmation.
If someone has permanently moved to NSW, a current high risk work licence (or one within 12 months of expiry) can be transferred into NSW. The licence must be issued by the state or territory the person usually lives in.
Free templates
Official sources
- High risk work licences — SafeWork NSW
- Verify NSW — high risk work — NSW Government
- Regularly check licences — SafeWork NSW
Questions people ask
How long does a NSW high risk work licence last?
SafeWork NSW says the licence expires after 5 years. Classes added later expire at the same time as the licence, not five years after they were added.
Can someone work if their high risk work licence has expired?
No. SafeWork NSW says you can’t do high risk work with an expired licence. You can still renew for up to 12 months after expiry, but you cannot do the work until the licence is current again.
Where do I check a NSW high risk work licence?
On the official Verify NSW register at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/hrw.
This page is a plain-English summary of official guidance. Datesly does not decide which licences a person must hold, and does not give legal, regulatory or compliance advice. You stay responsible for your own records.