Short answer: no. In NSW, you do not need a high-risk work (HRW) licence to operate a scissor lift, regardless of its height. The same goes for boom lifts with a boom length under 11 metres. The HRW licence only applies to boom-type elevating work platforms where the boom length is 11 metres or more.
That does not mean training is optional. Whoever runs the workplace still must make sure operators are properly trained, and the recognised way to show that for a scissor lift is the EWPA Yellow Card. Here is how the two sit together so you do not over-licence or under-train your crew.
When a high-risk work licence is required
The rule is set by the work health and safety laws and is the same right across Australia. An HRW licence, class WP, is required to operate a boom-type EWP where the boom length is 11 metres or more.
Boom length is measured as the greater of two things: the vertical distance from the surface the machine sits on to the platform floor at full height, or the horizontal reach from the centre of rotation to the outer edge of the platform fully extended. If that figure is 11 metres or more on a boom-type machine, the operator needs the WP licence. The training behind it is the nationally recognised unit TLILIC0005.
Crucially, a scissor lift is not a boom-type EWP. It lifts straight up on a folding scissor mechanism rather than on a telescoping, hinged or articulated boom. So, a scissor lift falls outside the HRW licence requirement no matter how high it goes.
So what does a scissor lift operator need?
This is where the duty of care comes in. Even though no licence is legally required for a scissor lift, the business running the site must ensure anyone operating one has the training, information and instruction to do it safely. That is a legal obligation under WHS law, not a nice-to-have.
The recognised way to meet it is the EWPA Yellow Card, which covers operation of EWPs that do not need an HRW licence. The Yellow Card has classes for different machines, including SL for scissor lifts and BL for boom lifts under 11 metres. It is backed by the nationally recognised unit RIIHAN301E, Operate elevating work platform.
Most sites will ask to see a Yellow Card or equivalent training record before letting anyone near a scissor lift, so in practice it is the standard ticket to have.
Yellow Card vs HRW licence at a glance
The two are often confused, so here is the difference side by side:
| EWPA Yellow Card | HRW Licence (Class WP) | |
| Covers | Scissor lifts, boom lifts under 11m, vertical lifts | Boom-type EWPs 11m or more |
| Issued by | EWPA (industry body) | SafeWork NSW (WHS regulator) |
| Legally required? | No, but training is required under duty of care | Yes, by law |
| Backed by unit | RIIHAN301E | TLILIC0005 |
| Renewal | Refresher recommended every few years | Renew every 5 years |
The simplest way to think about it: the Yellow Card is an industry credential that proves competency, while the HRW licence is a legal requirement issued by the regulator for higher-risk boom work.
Working at heights still applies
One more piece worth flagging. Any time there is a risk of a fall from height, working at heights training is relevant on top of the EWP ticket. Scissor lift or boom, high or low, a fall is a fall.
Many operators pair their EWP training with a working safely at heights course so they have both the machine competency and the fall-prevention knowledge that most sites expect.
Check the authority if you are unsure
Licensing rules are set by the WHS regulator and can be updated, so if you are ever unsure whether a particular machine needs a licence, the authoritative source is SafeWork NSW’s high risk work licences page. It lists every licence class and what each one covers. When it comes to compliance, it pays to confirm rather than assume.
Get the right EWP training in Newcastle
CS Transport Training delivers EWP training across Newcastle and the Central Coast. If you operate a scissor lift, our scissor lift Yellow Card course is the training you need. If you are operating a boom-type machine of 11 metres or more, our EWP training Newcastle course covers the licensing pathway.
Not sure which one fits your work? Call Chris on 0434 366 758 or get in touch through our website and we will point you to the right course.