If you have completed a Working at Heights course in Victoria, you may be wondering, “How long does my Working at Heights certificate last?”
The short answer is that the nationally recognised RIIWHS204E – Work safely at heights unit does not specify a two-year expiry period for the competency. The national unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work safely at heights, but it also notes that licensing, legislative and certification requirements can vary between states, territories and industries.
However, there is an important practical distinction.
Many Victorian and Brisbane employers, principal contractors and worksites require Working at Heights training to be refreshed every two years. So while your Statement of Attainment may not have a legislated expiry date, your employer may still require you to complete refresher training before you can work on a particular site.
After years of delivering training, our advice is simple: don’t focus only on whether your certificate has technically “expired”. Focus on whether you are current, competent and job ready.
Does RIIWHS204E Work Safely at Heights Expire After Two Years?
No. The nationally recognised RIIWHS204E unit itself does not state that the competency expires after two years.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings we hear from workers.
The date on your Statement of Attainment is useful for identifying when you completed the training, but it should not automatically be interpreted as an expiry date.
The national training register currently lists RIIWHS204E as the current unit of competency, and the unit itself does not establish a two-year validity period.
That doesn’t mean you should assume your old training will always be accepted.
Why Do Victorian and Brisbane Employers Ask for Refresher Training Every Two Years?
This is where the difference between qualification validity and workplace requirements becomes important.
Many Victorian and Brisbane employers and principal contractors have their own policies requiring workers to refresh Working at Heights training every two years.
For example, some organisations establish a two-year refresher requirement as part of their workplace training and safety procedures.
From an employer’s perspective, this can make sense. Working at heights involves hazards where a worker’s ability to correctly assess risks, select equipment and use fall protection systems needs to remain current.
The RIIWHS204E assessment requirements specifically involve practical skills such as assessing hazards and risks, implementing control methods, selecting and using personal protective equipment, identifying fall protection systems and checking the correct fitting, adjustment and anchoring of fall protection equipment.
These aren’t skills where you want workers to rely entirely on something they learned several years ago.
How Often Should You Refresh Working at Heights Training?
Our recommendation is to refresh your Working at Heights training every two years, particularly if that is what your employer, principal contractor or worksite requires.
There is also another important reason to consider refresher training.
If a staff member is demonstrating unsafe working practices, refresher training may be appropriate regardless of how long ago they completed their original course.
In our experience, training should be about maintaining safe competency—not simply waiting for a date on a certificate.
What If My Certificate Is More Than Two Years Old?
If your Working at Heights training is more than two years old, don’t automatically assume that your qualification is invalid.
Instead, check what your employer or the worksite requires.
You may be asked to complete a refresher course before being permitted to perform work at heights.
This is particularly important when:
- You have started working for a new employer.
- You are moving to a new project or worksite.
- A principal contractor has a two-year refresher policy.
- You haven’t worked at heights for an extended period.
- Your employer has identified unsafe working practices.
- You are returning to work that involves fall protection after a long break.
If you’re unsure, speak with your employer or training provider before starting the work.
Why We Recommend Refreshing Your Skills
At Affordable Training, we don’t look at refresher training as simply another certificate to tick off a compliance checklist.
Our view is that the purpose of training is to help workers remain competent and confident enough to perform the job safely.
Working at heights isn’t something where you want to discover that you’ve forgotten an important procedure when you’re already on a job site.
Regular refresher training gives workers an opportunity to revisit:
- Hazard identification and risk assessment.
- Fall protection systems.
- Personal protective equipment.
- Correct equipment selection.
- Fitting and adjustment of equipment.
- Anchorage requirements.
- Safe work procedures.
- Emergency and workplace procedures.
The current RIIWHS204E unit itself requires practical demonstration of working safely at heights, rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge.
Your Certificate Has the Date You Need
If you’re trying to work out when you completed your Working at Heights training, check your Statement of Attainment.
The relevant date will be recorded on your certificate.
This is useful information to have when speaking with your employer or training provider about whether you need a refresher.
If you’re contacting us about your previous training, having your Statement of Attainment available can make the conversation much easier.
What Should You Do If Your Employer Says You Need a Refresher?
If your employer requires Working at Heights refresher training every two years, follow their workplace requirement even though RIIWHS204E itself does not specify a two-year expiry.
The same applies if a principal contractor or particular worksite has its own training requirements.
Your employer’s site rules may be stricter than the minimum requirements associated with the nationally recognised unit.
Ultimately, the question isn’t simply:
“Has my certificate expired?”
A better question is:
“Am I currently trained and competent enough to safely perform this work, and does my employer accept my existing training?”
Working at Heights Training at Laverton North, Victoria
Affordable Training delivers Working at Heights training at Laverton North, Victoria.
Our approach is to make training practical, straightforward and focused on helping workers develop the skills and confidence they need for the workplace.
We understand that workers come to training with different levels of experience. Some may work at heights regularly, while others may need to refresh skills they haven’t used for some time.
Our goal is to make sure students understand what they are doing and why it matters—not simply complete training and walk away with paperwork.
So, How Long Does a Working at Heights Certificate Last in Victoria?
The nationally recognised RIIWHS204E – Work safely at heights competency does not have a legislated two-year expiry specified in the unit.
However, many Victorian employers, principal contractors and worksites require refresher training every two years.
So if your certificate is more than two years old, don’t assume that you can or cannot use it based solely on the age of the certificate. Check your employer and worksite requirements.
Our recommendation is to refresh your Working at Heights skills every two years, or sooner if unsafe work practices have been identified.
For us, the purpose of refresher training is simple: keep workers competent, confident and job ready.
If you’re unsure whether you need to refresh your Working at Heights training, contact Affordable Training at our Laverton North, Victoria location. Have your Statement of Attainment available so we can help you understand your training history and discuss your next step.