If you work in warehousing or logistics in South Australia or the Northern Territory and operate an order picker, or you’re looking to break into the industry and want to understand what licences you actually need, this guide is for you.
The order picker licence is one of the most in-demand plant licences in the warehousing sector, and it’s a separate qualification from a standard forklift licence. This article covers exactly what an order picker is, why a specific licence is required to operate one, how the licensing process works in SA and the NT, and how to get yours through FQT.
What Is an Order Picker?
An order picker is a powered industrial machine used in warehouses and distribution centres to pick and move items from shelving or racking systems. Unlike a standard counterbalance forklift where the operator sits in a fixed cab at ground level, an order picker operator stands on a platform that rises with the machine. This allows the operator to reach stock from multiple levels of racking while travelling through the aisles.
Order pickers are battery-operated machines and are used primarily for inventory identification, movement of goods, and filling orders for dispatch. They are most commonly found in high-bay warehouses, large-format retail distribution centres, storage facilities, and e-commerce fulfilment operations.
What About Turret Trucks?
The order picker licence (LO) also covers the operation of turret trucks, which are a related but distinct type of machine. Turret trucks are specifically designed to do one task: operate in very narrow aisles, lifting palletised stock into racking systems. They are battery-operated machines that use both the electric engine, battery, and operator compartment to counterweight heavy loads.
Like order pickers, turret trucks raise the operator on a platform, which is why both machine types fall under the same licence class.
Why Do You Need a Licence to Operate an Order Picker?
Operating an order picker in Australia is classified as high risk work under the Work Health and Safety Regulations. This means it is a legal requirement to hold a valid High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) before operating one in a workplace.
You must be over the age of 18 to obtain a High Risk Work Licence in Australia.
The licence class for an order picker in SA is LO, issued by SafeWork. It is obtained by completing the nationally recognised unit of competency TLILIC0004 — Licence to Operate an Order Picking Forklift through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), sitting the SafeWork SA assessment, and then lodging the documentation to have the licence issued.
Is an Order Picker Licence the Same as a Forklift Licence?
No. This is one of the most common points of confusion in the warehousing sector.
A standard forklift licence covers the LF licence class (counterbalance forklift, including reach trucks), obtained through TLILIC0003. An LO licence is required for forklifts where the operator’s platform rises and falls with the load to pick stock from high racking. An LF licence does not cover LO work, and vice versa.
If you hold a forklift HRWL (LF) and your employer asks you to operate an order picker, you cannot legally do so without also holding the LO licence. They are separate qualifications covering separate classes of equipment with different operating principles and different risk profiles.
For more on how the HRWL categories are structured across different plant types, see our guide to High Risk Work Licence categories.
Do Operators Need to Wear a Harness?
Leaving the platform guard rail area during operation and whilst elevated will require the operator to wear a safety harness attached to a lanyard to ensure their safety at height. This applies to order pickers and turret trucks covered under the LO licence. If the operator is within the guard rails and at low height then a harness is no longer the primary control measure as the guard rails form the more effective control measure.
How to Get Your Order Picker Licence in SA: Step by Step
The process for obtaining your LO HRWL involves three stages: completing the unit of competency training and assessment with an RTO, sitting the SafeWork HRWL assessment, and then lodging your documentation to have the licence issued.
Step 1: Complete TLILIC0004 Training and Assessment with an RTO
FQT offers two course pathways for the order picker licence, depending on your current experience level.
Two-Day Course (16 Hours) — For People with Little to No Order Picker Experience
This course is suitable for people with little to no current knowledge of Order Picker operations who are wishing to apply for their HRWL and gain employment. Training delivery and assessment is completed to the nationally accredited unit TLILIC0004 and provides the skills and knowledge required to operate an order picker safely in accordance with the unit of competency and all relevant Work Health and Safety legislative requirements.
The course runs over two consecutive days, starting at 8AM each day, finishing approximately 4PM.
One-Day Course (8 Hours) — For Experienced Operators
This course is suitable for people with existing skills and knowledge of Order Picker Truck operations who are wishing to apply for their High Risk Work Licence. Operators must have evidence of a previously held High Risk Work Licence (LO) or evidence of workplace training, and be able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to operate an order picker safely in accordance with all relevant Work Health and Safety legislative requirements.
The one-day course runs from 8AM, finishing approximately 4PM.
Both courses are delivered regularly at FQT’s training facility at Unit 1/15 Dunstan Road, Wingfield, where order picker equipment is available on site for practical training. Both courses are also available for onsite delivery at your workplace across metropolitan Adelaide, regional SA, and regional/metropolitan Northern Territory. Extra charges may apply for onsite delivery and minimum student numbers are required or minimum day rates are applied if numbers cannot be provided.
Step 2: Sit the SafeWork SA HRWL Assessment
The assessment components include knowledge, calculations, and performance assessment. The SafeWork HRWL assessment is a closed book assessment completed individually.
Completing the TLILIC0004 training and assessment with FQT enables participants to sit the SafeWork HRWL assessment. Competence in the TLILIC0004 Operate an order picking forklift truck unit of competency permits entry into the Safework High Risk Work Licence LO examination. A satisfactory achievement in the Safework licence examination enables an individual to lodge documentation towards a HRWL being issued.
Step 3: Lodge Your Licence Application
On successful completion of both assessments, FQT issues:
- A Statement of Attainment for TLILIC0004 Licence to Operate an Order Picking Forklift
- A Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA) for the LO class HRWL, issued by SafeWork SA
- A Tax Invoice and declaration
These documents need to be presented at a Service SA/Territory Services Customer Service Centre or Australia Post outlet to apply for the LO HRWL card. Payment of the government licence fee is required at this point. The application must be lodged within 60 days of assessment.
Entry Requirements
To enrol in FQT’s order picker licence course, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Provide valid photo identification
- Have a minimum Year 10 level of Language, Literacy and Numeracy (reading, writing, numeracy and comprehension skills)
- Have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number — FQT can assist with this if you don’t have one
How Long Is the Order Picker Licence Valid?
An LO High Risk Work Licence issued by SafeWork SA is valid for five years.
For a detailed walkthrough of the HRWL renewal process in SA, see our guide on how to renew your forklift licence in South Australia. While that guide focuses on the forklift HRWL (LF), the SafeWork SA renewal process is the same across all HRWL classes.
Can You Bundle the Order Picker Licence With Other Courses?
Yes. FQT offers the TLILIC0004 order picker course as part of a bundled package with other HRWL plant courses, including the forklift licence (TLILIC0003) and the boom lift over 11m (TLILIC0005), at a discounted rate. Contact FQT directly for bundled pricing.
For workers looking to build the broadest possible plant licence profile across warehousing, logistics, and construction, combining the LF, LO, WP & EWP qualifications in a planned training pathway is a practical and cost-effective approach. For a full breakdown of forklift and plant training costs in SA, visit our website and view service schedules therein, contact our admin team and enquiry. Please also refer to the following guide on how much a forklift licence costs in Adelaide in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a forklift licence before I can get an order picker licence? No. The LO order picker licence is a standalone qualification. You do not need to hold an LF forklift licence first. The two-day course at FQT is open to people with little to no prior order picker experience.
Does my forklift licence (LF) let me operate an order picker? No. The LF and LO are separate licence classes covering different equipment. An LF licence covers counterbalance forklifts and reach trucks. An LO licence is required to legally operate an order picker or turret truck. You need both if you want to operate both types of equipment.
Does the LO licence cover turret trucks? Yes. The LO licence outcome includes the use of turret trucks, which are specifically designed to operate in very narrow aisles, lifting palletised stock into racking systems.
How long does the course take? Two days (16 hours) for those with little to no order picker experience. One day (8 hours) for experienced operators who can provide evidence of prior training or a previously held LO HRWL.
What evidence do I need for the one-day experienced course? You need to provide evidence of a previously held LO High Risk Work Licence or evidence of workplace training, and you need to be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before the course and on the day.
Can I do the course at FQT’s facility or does it have to be onsite at my workplace? Both options are available. FQT delivers the order picker course regularly at their Wingfield facility, where order picker equipment is available on site. Onsite delivery at your workplace is also available across metropolitan Adelaide, regional SA, and the Northern Territory. Extra charges and minimum student numbers or a minimum day rate applies for onsite delivery.
What do I need to bring to the course? Your photo identification, your USI number, and appropriate work clothing including enclosed shoes (safety boots preferred) and high visibility clothing. Check FQT’s student handbook for the full list of requirements before attending.
What happens after I complete the course? FQT issues your Statement of Attainment for TLILIC0004 and your Tax Invoice, Declaration & Notice of Satisfactory Assessment. You then take these documents along with you to a Service SA Customer Service Centre or Australia Post outlet to apply for your LO HRWL. This must be done within 60 days of assessment.
Is the LO licence valid nationally? Yes. The LO HRWL is a nationally recognised licence. An HRWL issued in South Australia is recognised across all Australian states and territories.
Get Your Order Picker Licence with FQT in Adelaide
Forklift Quality Training is a SafeWork SA-accredited RTO (RTO 45625) based at Wingfield, South Australia, with over 35 years of experience delivering plant operations training. We offer the order picker licence course (TLILIC0004) in two pathways:
- Two-Day Course (16 Hours) — for people with little to no order picker experience
- One-Day Course (8 Hours) — for experienced operators with documented prior training or a previously held LO HRWL
Both courses are delivered at our Wingfield facility and onsite at your workplace across metro Adelaide, regional SA, and the NT.
Bundled pricing is available when combined with forklift, boom lift licence or EWP courses.
Enquire about the order picker licence course at FQT to check availability and course dates.