Telehandler Course Melbourne: Which Ticket Do You Need?
If you’re planning to operate a telehandler on site, the first question is straightforward: what training do you actually need?
The answer depends on the machine, its rated capacity, whether it slews, the attachments and the type of work you’ll be doing. In Victoria, a telehandler may require general operator training or a High Risk Work licence. Choosing the right telehandler course in Melbourne starts with knowing exactly what equipment you’ll be operating.
Telehandler ticket Melbourne course details
If you’re exploring the Victorian TV High Risk Work licence pathway, Construction Training International (CTI) delivers 11249NAT – Licence to operate a Non Slewing Telehandler (TV) at its Riddells Creek training facility.
| Course detail | Information |
| Course | 11249NAT – Licence to operate a Non Slewing Telehandler (TV) |
| Suitable for | Non-slewing telehandlers with a rated capacity greater than 3 tonnes |
| Duration | 3 days, 8 hours per day, plus pre-course learning |
| Location | 1164 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek VIC 3431, north of Melbourne |
| Course fee | $2,000 GST exempt per person |
| What you receive | On successful completion, you receive the training and assessment outcome required to apply to WorkSafe Victoria for the TV High Risk Work licence. Course completion does not itself issue the licence. |
| Upcoming dates | Check the course calendar for current availability |
What a telehandler course covers
A telehandler course teaches you how to safely operate a telescopic handler—lifting, moving, and placing loads using a boom that extends forward and upward. You’ll learn how to:
- Read load charts and understand capacity limits
- Operate the machine on uneven ground
- Use attachments like forks, buckets, and work platforms
- Carry out pre-start checks and basic maintenance
- Work safely around other people and equipment
Some courses stay at a basic operational level. Others go further, depending on the licence requirements tied to the work you’ll be doing on site. Training is hands-on. You should expect to spend real time on the equipment, work through actual lifting scenarios, and be assessed on safe operation rather than speed.
When a telehandler does and doesn’t need a licence
Not every telehandler requires a High Risk Work licence in Victoria. The main factors are whether the telehandler slews, its rated capacity and whether a boom-type elevating work platform is fitted.
For a non-slewing telehandler with a rated capacity of 3 tonnes or less, there is no specific High Risk Work licence requirement. But the employer must still provide the information, instruction, training and supervision needed for the operator to use the telehandler safely.
For a non-slewing telehandler with a rated capacity greater than 3 tonnes, the operator needs an appropriate High Risk Work licence. This can be:
- TV – Non-slewing telehandler operation
- CN – Non-slewing mobile crane operation
- C2, C6, C1 or C0 – a suitable slewing mobile crane licence
The TV licence was introduced in Victoria in July 2024 specifically for non-slewing telehandlers over 3 tonnes. Someone who already holds one of the accepted mobile crane High Risk Work licences does not also need a TV licence to operate a non-slewing telehandler.
A slewing telehandler requires the appropriate slewing mobile crane High Risk Work licence based on its rated capacity.
A further requirement applies when a boom-type elevating work platform is fitted. If the boom length is 11 metres or more, the operator also needs the appropriate elevated work platform licence.
The different types of telehandler training courses
Training isn’t one-size-fits-all. The course you need depends first on the telehandler itself and then on the work you’ll be doing with it.
Basic telehandler training
For a non-slewing telehandler with a rated capacity of 3 tonnes or less, a specific High Risk Work licence isn’t required in Victoria. Operators still need the skills and competency to use the plant safely.
CTI offers RIIHAN309F – Conduct Telescopic Materials Handler Operations, a 2-day Unit of Competency covering telehandler operation.
Employers may require this type of telehandler training even when no High Risk Work licence is required. Site-specific instruction may also be needed for the machine, attachment and work being carried out.
Non – slewing telehandlers over 3 tonnes
If the rated capacity is greater than 3 tonnes, the Victorian TV licence provides a telehandler-specific High Risk Work licence pathway.
CTI’s 11249NAT – Licence to operate a Non Slewing Telehandler (TV) is a 3-day course, including the High Risk Work licence assessment on day 3.
The TV licence covers non-slewing telehandlers. It does not allow you to operate a non-slewing mobile crane or a slewing telehandler.
Telehandler with attachments
Attachments change what the machine does, and what rules apply. Add a jib, and you’re close to crane work. Add a work platform, and you’re lifting people. Each scenario carries extra risk and extra regulation.
If a boom-type elevating work platform with a boom length of 11 metres or more is fitted, a WP High Risk Work licence is required in addition to the licence or competency requirements that apply to the telehandler itself.
Attachments must also be suitable for the particular telehandler and used within the machine’s rated operating limits.
Other High Risk Work licences
The work being carried out may require licences beyond the telehandler operator’s own licence.
For example, dogging may require a DG High Risk Work licence where judgment is needed to select or sling a load, or where a load must be directed while it is outside the operator’s view.
Operators working with slewing telehandlers will instead need the relevant crane operator licence for the machine’s rated capacity.
These requirements are in addition to telehandler competency and licensing rather than replacing them.
Telehandler licence requirements for specific brands
If you operate a Manitou, Merlo, JCB, or any other brand of telehandler, the training and licensing requirements are the same. There’s no manufacturer-specific licence in Australia. A Manitou licence isn’t a separate credential.
What determines your telehandler licence requirements is the work. A Manitou used strictly with forks for material handling needs verified operator training. The same machine fitted with a jib or a work platform may require a High Risk Work licence because the task has changed, not because the brand has.
The course you need is based on how your machine is set up and what you’ll be doing with it on site. That’s the starting point for any provider worth booking with.
Do I need a telehandler ticket for Melbourne construction sites?
There isn’t a separate Melbourne-specific telehandler licence. Construction sites in Melbourne follow Victorian High Risk Work licensing requirements.
If you’ll be operating a non-slewing telehandler over 3 tonnes, you need the appropriate High Risk Work licence before carrying out that work. For many operators, that will be the TV telehandler ticket. A current CN, C2, C6, C1 or C0 licence can also cover operation of a non-slewing telehandler over 3 tonnes.
For non-slewing machines rated at 3 tonnes or less, no specific High Risk Work licence is required. That doesn’t remove the need for training and competency. Employers must still make sure operators have the information, instruction, training and supervision needed to use the equipment safely.
Individual construction sites may also have their own induction, competency verification or plant-operation requirements. Holding the relevant licence doesn’t replace site-specific instruction for the machine and work being carried out.
If you’re unsure what a principal contractor or site supervisor is asking for when they refer to a telehandler ticket, check the machine capacity and configuration first. CTI can then help you identify the training or licence class that fits the work.
Telehandler training in Melbourne
Construction Training International delivers telehandler training near Melbourne from its Riddells Creek facility in the Macedon Ranges.
The training centre at 1164 Kilmore Rd provides access to practical plant training for students travelling from Melbourne, the Macedon Ranges and surrounding areas. CTI offers both the 2-day RIIHAN309F telehandler operations course and the 3-day 11249NAT TV licence course, so the training can be matched to the type and rated capacity of the machine you need to operate.
If you’re travelling from Melbourne for a telehandler ticket, check the course calendar before making arrangements, as course dates vary throughout the year.
How telehandler training fits into broader construction career paths
For many people, a telehandler course is a starting point rather than a destination. Once you’re working on site, you may move into:
- Dogging or rigging
- Crane operation
- Elevated work platform training
Each step builds on the last, and each comes with its own rules, duration, and assessment. If you’re planning long-term work in construction, it’s worth thinking ahead. Don’t think only in terms of the next course, but the next two or three.
How to choose the right course
Start with the work, not the machine. Think about:
- What you’ll be lifting
- Whether you’ll be lifting people
- The attachments you’ll be using
- The site rules set by your employer or contractor
From there, the right course becomes clearer. If you’re unsure, ask before you book. A quick conversation can save you from completing the wrong training and having to redo it later.
Telehandler ticket Melbourne FAQs
Do I need a licence to operate a telehandler in Victoria?
It depends on the telehandler. A non-slewing telehandler rated at 3 tonnes or less does not require a specific High Risk Work licence, although the operator still needs suitable training and competency. A non-slewing telehandler over 3 tonnes requires a TV or accepted mobile crane High Risk Work licence. Slewing telehandlers require the appropriate slewing mobile crane licence.
How long does a telehandler course take?
CTI’s RIIHAN309F – Conduct Telescopic Materials Handler Operations course runs for 2 days. The 11249NAT course for the TV High Risk Work licence pathway runs for 3 days, with the High Risk Work licence assessment on day 3. Students completing the TV course should also allow approximately 12 hours for pre-course learning.
How much does telehandler training cost in Melbourne?
CTI currently charges $740 for the 2-day RIIHAN309F telehandler operations course and $2,000 GST exempt per person for the 3-day 11249NAT TV course. The right option depends on the telehandler you need to operate, particularly its rated capacity. Check the relevant course page before booking in case fees change.
What’s the difference between a telehandler and a forklift licence?
A forklift and a telehandler are different types of plant. A forklift uses a mast and elevating load carriage, while a telehandler uses a telescopic boom and can accept different attachments. Their licence and competency requirements are therefore different. The licence you need should be based on the plant you’ll operate.
Can I use a forklift licence to operate a telehandler?
No. A forklift licence does not replace the training or High Risk Work licence required for a telehandler in Victoria. If the telehandler is non-slewing and rated over 3 tonnes, you need a TV licence or one of the accepted mobile crane High Risk Work licences. For a machine rated at 3 tonnes or less, you still need appropriate telehandler training and competency.
Where can I do a telehandler course near Melbourne?
CTI delivers telehandler courses at 1164 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek VIC 3431, north of Melbourne. Training includes the 2-day RIIHAN309F telehandler operations course and the 3-day 11249NAT course for operators who need the Victorian TV High Risk Work licence pathway.
Ready to book your telehandler course?
If you know which machine you’ll be operating, CTI can help confirm the training or licence pathway that fits the work.
Contact CTI on 03 5428 6790 or submit an enquiry and we’ll confirm your eligibility and the next available course date.
