Your Working at Heights training may not have a formal expiry date, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can rely on an old Statement of Attainment forever. Many employers and worksites expect workers to refresh their training regularly - often every two years - to ensure their knowledge and skills remain current.
So, when should you complete a Working at Heights refresher? What does the refresher course cover, and how can you quickly get your training up to date?
This guide explains what you need to know about Working at Heights refresher training, including industry expectations, refresher course content and when you may need to update your training.
Does a working at heights ticket expire? The 2-year industry rule
No, not officially. Your Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E stays on your VET transcript permanently under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Nothing can take that qualification away from you, even time.
Site access is a different matter, though. The Working at Heights Association recommends refreshing your training every two years, and some employers and principal contractors treat that recommendation as a hard requirement before they’ll let you on site. Legislation changes, technology advances, site conditions change, and skills fade with time, so a ticket that’s still technically valid on paper can get you turned away at the gate.
Part of the reason for this abundance of caution is that employers are the ones who carry the liability. Under the WHS Act, a business must confirm its workers hold active competency, not just a certificate gathering dust. If an incident happens and a worker hasn’t refreshed their working at heights ticket in years, that can become a serious problem for everyone involved.
What's covered in a working at heights refresher course
A refresher course reassesses the core skills that keep you safe working at heights. Here’s what it covers:
Site-specific hazard identification: You’ll practise identifying height hazards on a real or simulated site and completing accurate Job Safety and Environmental Analyses (JSEAs) and Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS).
Fall-arrest equipment: Inspecting, fitting, and anchoring fall-arrest systems and harnesses correctly is one of the core parts of the assessment, as standards change over time.
Fall calculations: You’ll get a refresher on the best practices for calculating clear fall distance and the pendulum effect.
Emergency response: Students review self-rescue plans and suspension trauma mitigation.
Am I eligible for a refresher, or do I need the full course?
To qualify for the streamlined refresher, you need a valid Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E or the superseded RIIWHS204D issued within the last five years. Here’s how to work out which applies to you:
Scenario | Training path required |
Ticket is less than 2 years old | Fully compliant on most sites. No retraining needed yet. |
Ticket is between 2 and 5 years old | Eligible for the fast-tracked Refresher Course. |
Ticket is more than 5 years old | Must re-enrol in the Full Initial Course (face to face). |
Don’t have a formal VET Statement of Attainment | Must re-enrol in the Full Initial Course (face to face). |
The convenience of online refresher training
Sitting in a classroom for a full day isn’t realistic for most tradies trying to keep a ticket current. Our online refresher course is delivered entirely through an interactive student portal so you can complete it from your phone or laptop wherever you happen to be.
The self-paced modules take one to four hours depending on how quickly you work through them. That makes it a solid option for busy tradies or FIFO workers who need compliant paperwork sorted before stepping onto a new site, without losing a full day of pay to do it.
Mining and construction bundles
You’ll rarely need to renew your working at heights ticket only. If a site flags it as out of date, then it will probably flag confined spaces and gas atmospheres at the same time. Employers tend to check all three together before you’re cleared to start on a new site.
Bundling your training can save both time and money, helping you complete the courses you need and get job-ready faster than booking each one separately. Explore the full range of available training packages below:
Course | Delivery | Who it’s for |
Online | Workers eligible for the fast-tracked refresher | |
Face-to-face | Workers who prefer an in-person refresher assessment | |
Blended | First-time candidates with no prior ticket | |
Blended | First-time candidates who need both tickets | |
2 Course Refresher Bundle: Confined Spaces and Working at Heights | Online | Workers refreshing both tickets together |
3 Course Bundle: Confined Spaces, Gas Test, and Working at Heights | Face-to-face | First-time candidates targeting mining or shutdown work |
Blended | Candidates who need both the construction and resources heights units | |
Face-to-face | Workers refreshing all three tickets in person | |
Online | Workers refreshing all three tickets online | |
3 Course Bundle: Confined Spaces, Gas Test, and Working at Heights | Blended | First-time candidates who want the online theory option |
Stay current with Civil Safety
We make refreshing your Working at Heights training straightforward. Complete the refresher training and assessment through Civil Safety, with a streamlined enrolment process and clear guidance throughout.
Once you successfully complete the required training and assessment, you’ll receive your Statement of Attainment for the nationally recognised unit RIIWHS204E Work Safely at Heights, delivered by Civil Safety (RTO 32381).
Need to update your whole team? We also offer flexible group and onsite training options for employers who need to bring multiple workers up to date efficiently and minimise disruption to their operations.
Contact Civil Safety today to book your Working at Heights refresher training.
Frequently asked questions
No, your Statement of Attainment for RIIWHS204E never legally expires. However, most sites still require a refresher course every two years.
No. Registered training organisations require a real copy of your VET transcript or formal Statement of Attainment before approving you for a refresher course.
You have a 30-day window to complete all modules and final checks after you’ve enrolled.
Yes. Completing the refresher gives you a current Statement of Attainment that’s valid throughout Australia under the AQF framework.
Most mine sites require a current working at heights ticket, usually one that’s been refreshed within the last two years.