I'm an international Student, can I do a White Card course?

Many international students find themselves needing a White Card. A White Card is a safety induction course that is required by anyone wishing to enter a construction site in Australia. It is regulated by ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), and RTOs (Registered Training Organisation) have to abide by its rules.

Anyone in Australia can do the White Card course, with one exception: Overseas students. The reason behind this is actually quite simple: ASQA requires RTOs to be CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) compliant in order to train overseas students. And the truth is that it comes with extra costs and regulation for RTOs, which is why most shy away from it.

Bad new for international students needing the White Card

In the past, RTOs were allowed to deliver the course online. In 2019, the government changed the rules and the White Card training has to be delivered face-to-face. Online courses are not valid anymore. To ensure that your White Card is valid, the best way is to make sure that the provider is registered to provide the White Card course on training.gov.

If you are unsure what a White Card is, or if you need one, refer to the following: Whats is a White Card? It also touches on the White Cards in different States. Please note that the White Card course is nationally recognised, and any White Card should be accepted by employers in other States as well.

Any Citizens, permanent residents or anyone from overseas on a Holiday Visa, Work Visa etc can complete the QLD White Card course. Please note that if you are backpacking and moving across states: The White Card course is nationally recognised. What this means is that no matter which state you get your White Card from, it will be accepted in all other states and territories.

Another thing to note is that in the unfortunate situation of a White Card going missing (lost, stolen, destroyed etc), RTOs with the White Card course on scope can issue a replacement Card, as long as you can produce the Statement of Attainment for the unit of competency (CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry). We always recommend to save a digital copy in the clouds (in your email, google drive, dropbox etc). This will not only save you the hassle of getting a new White Card, but it will also save you money as a replacement White Card typically costs less than half the actual course. In fact, Tradie Training just dropped their replacement White Card price to $19.