Does a White Card Expire? Two-Year Rule by State

The short answer

The general construction induction card, better known as the white card, has no printed expiry date. What can end it is time away from construction. Four regulators set a rule of about two years: if you have not done construction work in that time, the card may no longer count and you may have to do the course again. The Queensland Training Ombudsman’s 2024 review listed “Should White Cards have an expiry date?” as an open question for stakeholders, which tells you there is no single national expiry (Training Ombudsman review).

Expiry rules by state

State	What the regulator says
NSW	Valid only if you have not been out of the industry for more than two years
QLD	No expiry stated for white cards. Replacing one needs a two-year work declaration
WA	Invalid after two consecutive years or longer out of the industry
VIC	WorkSafe Victoria's page does not state an expiry rule
SA	Valid if you have worked in construction within the last two years
TAS	WorkSafe Tasmania's page does not state an expiry rule
NT	May need to retrain after two years without construction work
ACT	Does not expire unless cancelled by the WHS Commissioner

NSW

SafeWork NSW says cards from any jurisdiction are only regarded as valid if the holder has not been out of the industry for more than two years, citing clause 316 of the WHS Regulation. That applies to NSW cards and interstate cards alike.

Queensland

WorkSafe Queensland does not state an expiry for current white cards. The two-year test shows up when you replace a lost card: the Training Ombudsman review says the replacing RTO needs a declaration that you have done construction work in the past two years.

Western Australia

WorkSafe WA is the clearest. The card stays valid as long as the holder stays consistently in the construction industry. If you leave the industry for two consecutive years or longer, the card becomes invalid.

Victoria

The WorkSafe Victoria white card page covers the training, which must be face to face, but it does not mention expiry or a two-year rule. If you have been out of construction for a while, call the WorkSafe Victoria Licensing Branch on 1300 852 562 before you rely on an old card.

South Australia

SafeWork SA says the card remains valid as long as you maintain your competencies, which it defines as having worked in the construction industry within the last two years.

Tasmania

The WorkSafe Tasmania page does not state an expiry or a two-year rule. It does say that if you hold a current and valid card from another state, you do not need a Tasmanian one.

Northern Territory

NT WorkSafe says a person may be required to do the training again if they have not carried out construction work in the preceding two years. It also says existing holders do not need further training when the training package is updated.

ACT

Access Canberra says the card does not expire. It stays valid unless cancelled by the Work Health and Safety Commissioner.

How the two-year rule works

The rule counts time out of construction work, not time since you did the course. Someone who did the course ten years ago and has worked on sites every year since meets the two-year test wherever it applies. Someone who did it three years ago and never used it may not be, in NSW, WA, SA or the NT.

For mining, this matters when construction work happens on a mine site. A shutdown crew or civil contractor may ask for a white card, and a card that lapsed during years of production work may not pass their check. Keep records that show your construction work, such as payslips or a statement of service, in case you are asked.

Old blue, red and green cards

Queensland blue card. WorkSafe Queensland says you do not need to change to a white card. If a blue card is lost or damaged, it cannot be replaced and you do the current course instead.
WA blue card. WorkSafe WA accepts both blue and white WA cards.
Victorian red card. SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Tasmania both list Victorian red cards among the older cards they recognise.
Old NSW green card. WorkSafe Queensland says these are not valid anywhere.

The two-year rules above still apply to older cards in the states that set them.

Using your card in another state

Safe Work Australia says white cards are recognised Australia-wide. NT WorkSafe’s mutual recognition bulletin adds the condition: the card has to have been issued under a corresponding WHS law and still be valid. So a card that has lapsed in the state that issued it does not come back to life when you cross a border.

What to do if your card has lapsed

If you have been out of construction for more than two years and you are in NSW, WA, SA or the NT, plan to redo the course. Our white card course comparison lists published prices from providers in each state. If the card is still valid but lost, the white card replacement guide covers who reissues it and what it costs.

Frequently asked questions

Does a white card expire?

There is no expiry date printed on the card. But in NSW, WA, SA and the NT the regulator ties validity to recent construction work, roughly two years. Access Canberra says an ACT card does not expire unless the WHS Commissioner cancels it. The WorkSafe Victoria and WorkSafe Tasmania pages do not state an expiry rule.

How long is a white card valid for?

As long as you keep working in construction, in the states that set a two-year rule. WorkSafe WA says the card becomes invalid if you leave the industry for two consecutive years or longer. SafeWork SA says it stays valid if you have worked in construction within the last two years.

Do I need to redo my white card after two years out of construction?

In WA, yes, because the card becomes invalid. In NSW the card is only regarded as valid if you have not been out of the industry for more than two years. The NT says you may be required to do the training again. If you are not sure, ask the employer or principal contractor what they will accept before you start.

Is my old blue card or red card still valid?

WorkSafe Queensland says you do not need to swap a Queensland blue card for a white card, but a lost blue card cannot be replaced. WorkSafe WA accepts both blue and white WA cards. SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe Tasmania both list Victorian red cards among the older cards they recognise. WorkSafe Queensland says old NSW green cards are not valid.

Is a white card from one state valid in another?

Yes. Safe Work Australia says white cards are recognised Australia-wide. The card still has to be valid where it was issued, and the two-year rules above still apply.

Do white cards need renewing when the course code changes?

No. NT WorkSafe says existing holders do not have to do further training when training package requirements are updated. Your card stays valid on the same terms as before.

Sources

Last updated 13 October 2026. Facts on this page come from the sources below.

The sources are regulator and government pages read on 13 October 2026. Where a regulator’s page does not mention expiry, we say so rather than guess. Rules can change, so check the linked page or ask the regulator before you rely on an older card.

Does a White Card Expire? The Two-Year Rule in Each State