Your talent is in demand in industries like ports, manufacturing, storages and warehouses, construction sites, depot and other businesses that deals with loading and moving of heavy cargos.
Synonymously, license is also referred to as certification, training, operator card. Do not get confused, it only referred to single significance.
Advantages of having forklift license
- Quick job placement, wage raise and promotion
- Proven to be competent to operate forklift
- Compliance with OSHA standard
- Boost in morale improving safety culture
- Reduced near misses and accidents in the workplace
- Lesser operating cost for the part of the employer
- Increase productivity improving the profit for the part of the company
Here are the steps how to get forklift license:
There are various types of forklift trucks, different in controls, characteristics and function. The training lesson must attempt to address those elements. OSHA states that forklift training must be specific to the type of forklift an operator will be driving.
Evaluate yourself what you lift truck you want be trained on. Some factors that could influence your decision are your prospective job and nature of industry in your state or location.
If want to work in a warehouse, then the most common truck being used in these businesses are the counterbalance forklifts, therefore, you may opt to get a training about this type of machine. If you are in a state where construction is a booming industry, you may choose to operate a rough terrain forklift, trucks commonly used in construction.
Step 2: Enroll for a forklift training course from a private or trade school
We have made available directory of forklift training providers of each state, just select your state, and check there the schools.
Some schools do provide forklift certification through online mean. I strongly oppose against this kind of method. Online training cannot fully certify you. OSHA implies that practice test must be formed part of the training curriculum. You cannot take the practice online, it is completed in person. Do not get hook up with online training, spend some time and effort taking the training in real environment.
Step 3: Attend the theoretical part of the course
This part lasts for 6-8 hours, depending on the extent of the course. During the classroom lesson, you will be provided with reading materials, power point presentation, video presentation, and many other methods of lesson delivery.
Step 4: Complete the Practice Test
It’s another important component of the training. The trainer will supervise your performance. The trainer will teach the basic functions and controls, drive the truck, maneuver them, load materials, relocate the cargos. The trainer will have to simulate what the trainer did. You will be given various tasks to accomplish.
Step 5: Passing Written Examination and Evaluation
OSHA says that some sort of evaluation must be administer in order to assess the skill level of the operator during the training. It is given through written examination. The passing grade of the test is 75% generally, but depending on the standard of the school, it could be higher.
Step 6: Certification
After you have completed those above-mentioned elements of the course and passed the written test, the certification process follows. You can take a sigh of relief when you reached this stage. This is where the instructor will propose you to become licensed forklift operator.
The school will issue you certificate of training completion and forklift license. Keep those document, these are your evidences that you finished a certification course. Present these to your potential or present employer.
Where to Get Forklift Certification
In this blog, we’ve made available to you the listings of private forklift training companies of each state. Just select your state, choose the school near where you are, inquire with them, tell about what you need, and enroll for the forklift certification course.
The training company has their own facility that simulate actual working environment. They have skilled and experienced trainer to deliver the training.
Employers can also make a schedule with the school to arrange necessary training for their operators.
United States
There is no license issuing government body in the US. OSHA only lays out standards to follow. Companies can designate someone as their in-house forklift trainer and train operators in accordance to OSHA or their standard, which ever is higher.
The process of certification is one that mentioned above.
The recertification and renewal must be provided at least once every three years. Employer is the one responsible for the provision of retraining course.
There are many reasons why one might want to get a forklift license in the United States. Perhaps they want to move up in their company, or they want to become certified so they can operate a forklift at their job. Whatever the reason, there are a few things that need to be done in order to get a forklift license in the United States.
It is important to note that one wants to get certified in the US, the training course must depend on the class of trucks or forklifts he wishes to have training. The course curriculum must be specific to this type of trucks. So when an individual want to take training on counterbalance, the course curriculum must address the topics about that forklift.
If you want to get a certified operator license, you will need to take a written examination and a skills test. The written examination will test your knowledge of forklift safety and operation, while the skills test will require you to demonstrate your ability to operate a forklift. Once you have passed both the written examination and the skills test, you will be issued a certified operator license.
If you want to get a non-certified operator license, you need to contact a training school and be registered in the course. If you're presently employed, your employer must be the one to supply the training to you and other workers that might need it. The training can be conducted on site in the actual workplace.
Once you have obtained your forklift license, you will be able to operate a forklift in the United States.
Australia
In Australia there are two types of forklift license, LO and LF. LO license only allows you to operate an order or stock picker truck. While LF permit you to drive any type other than order picker.
The above instruction on getting a license is very much the same in Australia. After completing the training course, RTO (school) will issue trainee notice of attainment, notice of assessment and AS1 form. Complete more documents such as 100 points evidence of identity (as listed in here), notice of assessment and attainment, AS1 application form, and corresponding fee. Lodge those to the nearest Australia Post for them to take your photo. Wait for two weeks before WorkCover/WorkSafe will issue you the photographic license. You will receive it by mail in the address you put in the application form.
The license is valid for five years.
The cost of a forklift license in Australia varies depending on the state or territory in which you live and skills you currently have. In most cases, the cost is around $400 for absolute beginner with no prior knowledge, however for those experienced operators, the cost is a little cheaper than beginner.
This fee doesn't include the application of high-risk work (HRW) licence where forklift operation is classified in. The application cost of HRW licence varies depending on the territory.
There are a few things that you need to do in order to get your forklift license in Australia. You need to be at least 18 years old, must be able to know the English language and must have 100-points of identification. You don't need to have a valid driver's license. In some cases, a USI is required.
Once you have your forklift license, you will be able to operate a forklift in any workplace that uses them. This includes warehouses, factories, construction sites, and more. If you want to operate a forklift in a different country, you will need to obtain a license in that country as well.
United Kingdom
The forklift training can be provided by a private company and the company must be accredited by one of these certifying bodies:
- Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register (ITSSAR)
Armstrong House, 28 Broad Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1AB
Tel: 0118 989 3229 / www.itssar.org.uk - Construction Industry Training Board, (CITB)
Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6RH
Tel: 0870 417 7274 / www.constructionskills.co.uk - Lantra National Training Organisation Ltd.
Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Tel: 024 7669 6996 / www.lantra-awards.co.uk - National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS)
PO Box 204, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7FY
Tel: 01606 49909 / www.npors.com - Road Transport Industry Training Board (RTITB)
Access House, Halesfield 17, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 4PW
Tel: 01952 520200 / www.rtitb.co.uk - Association of Industrial Truck Trainers (AITT)
Unit 20, The Springboard Centre, Mantle Lane, Coalville, Leics, LE67 3DW
Tel: 01530 277857 / www.aitt.co.uk
The method of taking a forklift license in the UK is the same as the above. The type of training that you could take will depend on your skills and requirements.
Here the possible instances why you want to get a training:
- Novice – for individual with no prior knowledge
- Experienced – for beginner who has experience driving forklift but without proper certification.
- Conversion – For experienced operator who to be certified to drive other type of fork truck.
- Refresher – for operator who has an expiring license can take this. Workers who must be retrained can also take this.
There are different types of forklift trucks that are available in the United Kingdom and the most common ones are below. The type of training that is required will depend on the type of forklift that will be operated. There are three main types of forklifts that are used in the UK:
- Counterbalance forklifts
- Reach trucks
- VNA (very narrow aisle) forklifts
The most common type of forklift license is the counterbalance forklift license. This type of license is required for most types of forklifts that are used in warehouses and factories. The counterbalance forklift license is also required for most types of electric forklifts. The reach truck license is required for forklifts that have a mast and a set of forks that extend out in front of the machine. These types of forklifts are used in narrow aisle applications.
The VNA forklift license is required for very narrow aisle forklifts. These types of forklifts have a very narrow turning radius and are used in applications where space is limited.
The cost of taking a forklift training course in this country will depend on the skill the operator has. Those mentioned above are the types of training you might need.
The novice training course is in average of £400 per participant, the refresher is £135, the semi-experienced operator course is £295, and the conversion is £355. These numbers are just rough estimates since the amount of taking a course primarily depend on the training provider.
Conclusion
Spend some time and money to get forklift license. It only takes 2-3 days to complete, costs around $200 to $300 and little effort to exert. But the benefit is huge!
When you are in possession of forklift license, you are most likely to be offered a forklift job, demand for a raise, become a trainer of your company, the advantages are limitless.
Follow these steps on how to get a forklift license and you will get your own at no time.
