High Risk Work Licence - Derrick Crane (CD)

Typically three parts: knowledge questions, a written or verbal assessment, and a practical demonstration on derrick equipment. The practical usually covers pre-start inspection, setting up guys and anchorages, reading load charts, directing a lift and shutting down safely. Your registered training organisation confirms the exact structure and conditions before you book.

Most candidates find the practical manageable if they have real derrick time, but the knowledge section catches people out because load charts, guy tension and stability need genuine understanding, not memorisation. Difficulty depends heavily on your prior rigging experience and how much supervised practice you get before the assessment.

Course duration and licence validity are set by your training provider and the regulator in your state or territory, and figures change. Check the registered training organisation's course page and your local work health and safety regulator's website for the current duration, validity period and renewal requirements rather than relying on second-hand information.

Retake and reassessment arrangements are set by your registered training organisation and the regulator, so policies differ between providers and jurisdictions. Ask your provider in writing before you enrol what happens if you do not meet a component, whether additional training is required, and what it costs to be reassessed.

Start with stability and configuration - how the mast, boom, guys and anchorages share load - because it underpins load charts, inspections and setup. Then work through load estimation and rigging gear, followed by legislation and documentation. Practise reading charts and calculating loads daily; that is where most marks are lost.

Candidates most often lose marks on load chart interpretation, forgetting to account for sling angles and gear weight, missing guy or anchorage inspection steps, poor pre-start checks, and unclear signalling. Rushing the practical sequence and skipping the shutdown and documentation steps are also frequent, avoidable errors.

Entry requirements are set by your training provider and regulator. Many providers expect relevant rigging or dogging experience and a level of language, literacy and numeracy sufficient for load charts and paperwork. Confirm prerequisites with the provider directly, as they vary between states and territories.

Fees, booking processes and available dates are published by individual registered training organisations and vary widely by location and course length. Search for a provider offering the derrick crane unit, compare what is included, and confirm current pricing and any licensing fees with your state or territory regulator.

High risk work licences are issued under nationally consistent arrangements, but administration sits with each state and territory regulator. If you move or plan to work across borders, check with the regulator in the new jurisdiction about recognition, notification requirements and any local conditions before starting work.