A White Card check means sighting a worker's general construction induction card and confirming it's genuine and still current before they start construction work. The card doesn't expire, but it stops counting if the holder hasn't done construction work for 2 years in a row.
Below: what the card is, how long it lasts, how to check one in each state, what to do with lost, old and interstate cards, and how to keep records without a filing cabinet. Details are as at October 2026.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the rules with the regulator in your state.
What is a White Card?
A White Card (formally a general construction induction card, or construction induction card in Victoria) shows that a person has completed general construction induction training: the national unit CPCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry, or an earlier equivalent. Anyone doing construction work needs one, including labourers, apprentices, trades, subbies and supervisors.
The rule sits in the WHS Regulations (regulation 317 in the model regulations, used in NSW, Queensland, SA, WA and the other harmonised states). A business must not direct or allow a worker to carry out construction work unless:
- the worker has completed general construction induction training, and
- if they completed it more than 2 years ago, they've done construction work in the preceding 2 years.
The business must also make sure the worker holds the card, or, if they've applied and are waiting for it, a training certification issued in the last 60 days. Victoria's OHS Regulations set the same requirement for its construction induction card.
How long does a White Card last?
A White Card has no expiry date. It lasts indefinitely, as long as the holder keeps doing construction work. The catch is the 2-year rule:
- If the holder hasn't done any construction work for 2 consecutive years, the card is no longer current. In Victoria, regulation 349 of the OHS Regulations 2017 says the card lapses at the end of that 2-year period.
- They need to redo the induction training and get a new card before going back on site.
- Construction work doesn't need to be continuous. A few weeks on site within the 2 years keeps the card current.
The rule is the same everywhere, but it sits in different laws:
| State or territory | Where the 2-year rule comes from | What happens after 2 years out of construction |
|---|---|---|
| NSW, Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, ACT, NT | The harmonised WHS Regulations (regulation 317 in the model regulations) | The business can't let them do construction work until they redo the training |
| Victoria | OHS Regulations 2017, regulation 349 | The card lapses and they need a new one |
In Queensland, WorkSafe also says a worker who loses their card needs a new card, not a replacement, if they haven't done construction work in the last two years. SafeWork SA says the same thing differently: the card stays valid as long as the holder has worked in construction in the last 2 years.
That means you can't tell from the card alone whether it's still valid. Ask when the worker last did construction work and note it on their record. For someone coming back after a long break (a career change, time overseas, extended leave), confirm it before they start.
White Card lookup: how to verify a card in each state
White Cards are issued differently in each state, so the lookup is different too. NSW, Victoria and WA have an online register you can search; Queensland and SA don't, so you confirm the card with the training organisation that issued it. As at October 2026:
| State | Who issues the card | How an employer checks it | Replacement if lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | SafeWork NSW | Verify NSW (White Card): search by name or card number for current, expired, suspended or cancelled cards | Apply through Service NSW |
| Victoria | WorkSafe Victoria, after training with an approved RTO | Validate a WorkSafe licence on myWorkSafe, or call 1300 852 562 | Apply to WorkSafe Victoria |
| Queensland | The registered training organisation (RTO) that ran the training | Contact the issuing RTO (its number is on the card) to confirm the card and statement of attainment | The issuing RTO, or another Queensland RTO if it has closed |
| WA | The RTO, on cards supplied by WorkSafe WA | WorkSafe WA's construction induction training card database | The issuing RTO |
| SA | The RTO that ran the training (SafeWork SA doesn't issue cards) | Contact the issuing RTO; SafeWork SA can tell you who issued it | The issuing RTO |
Whichever state, the basic check is the same:
- Sight the card (or the digital card on the worker's phone) and match the name to their photo ID.
- Note the card number and issuing state, plus the RTO number where there is one.
- Search the register where one exists, or confirm with the issuing RTO where it doesn't.
- Ask when they last did construction work and record the answer.
Lost, old and interstate cards
Interstate cards. A general construction induction card from any state or territory is recognised across Australia. A Queensland card is fine on a NSW site, as long as the 2-year rule is met. Check it with the issuing state, not the state you're working in.
Lost or damaged cards. If they've done construction work in the last 2 years, the worker doesn't need to redo the course. They apply for a replacement from whoever issued the card (see the table). While they wait, a statement of attainment for CPCWHS1001 helps you confirm the training happened, but a statement issued more than 60 days ago doesn't replace the card itself.
Old cards. Cards for the current unit (CPCWHS1001) and its predecessors (CPCCWHS1001 and CPCCOHS1001A) are recognised. Much older state cards, such as Victoria's red card or Queensland's old construction blue card, may not be. WorkSafe Queensland says a lost Queensland blue card can't be replaced; the worker has to complete the current course. If a worker shows you a card that predates the national White Card, check with your state regulator before accepting it. If in doubt, a 6-hour course is cheap insurance.
Online courses. Rules on online delivery differ. WorkSafe Victoria, for example, only accepts White Card training delivered face to face by an approved RTO. A card from an unapproved online course may not be valid.
Should you keep a copy of the card?
Your duty is to make sure the worker holds a card, so the minimum record is the card number, issuing state, the date you checked it and who checked it. Many principal contractors and auditors will also ask to see a copy, so most construction businesses keep a photo of the card.
If you keep copies, treat them as personal information: store them securely, limit who can see them, and don't scatter photos across text messages, inboxes and personal phones. A single system that holds the card, the check and the date is easier to defend in an audit than a shared drive. White Cards are also one line on a broader new employee onboarding checklist, and plant operators also need a high risk work licence check. If the worker holds a visa, run a VEVO check for employers at the same time; if your site work takes you into schools or childcare centres, see our guide to working with children checks.
How Canyou handles this
Canyou is employee onboarding software for construction, labour hire and other licence-heavy businesses. White Cards are handled through its licence tracking software:
- Ask for it at onboarding. Add a White Card certification and assign it to positions like Labourer, Carpenter or Site supervisor. Every new starter in that role is asked for it during onboarding.
- Collect it at the gate. With QR site sign-in, workers and subbies scan a QR code on site, pick their role and complete the induction and their tickets on their own phone. You can require approval before anyone starts.
- Verify, then approve. Your admin checks the card (on Verify NSW, myWorkSafe, or with the RTO), then approves it in Canyou or rejects it with a reason so the worker re-uploads. The card and the decision stay on the worker's record.
- See who's cleared to work. A dashboard shows who has a current White Card and other required tickets for their role, so nobody arrives on Monday missing one.
Canyou doesn't search the state registers for you; your admin does the register check, and Canyou keeps the card, the approval and the history together. The same process covers high risk work licences, work rights checks and anything else your sites need. See how it works as onboarding software for construction companies.
Want to see it on your own roles? Book a demo, or use Try for free below. No credit card required.
