A White Card (general construction induction card) is legally required before you can work on any Australian construction site — including as an apprentice or on work experience. Getting one before you apply makes you instantly more employable.
How to get it
- Step 1: Complete the unit CPCWHS1001 — Prepare to work safely in the construction industry with a registered training organisation (RTO).
- Step 2: The course typically takes about a day and covers site safety basics: hazards, PPE, incident reporting and your rights and duties.
- Step 3: Costs vary by state and provider — commonly in the $100–$200 range. Some states require face-to-face or supervised delivery, so check your state's rules before booking an online course.
- Step 4: Your card is issued by your state's work health and safety regulator (e.g. SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Victoria) and is recognised in every state and territory.
Good to know
- White Cards don't expire, but if you haven't done construction work for two consecutive years the card may lapse — check your state regulator's rules.
- Carry it (or the approved digital version) whenever you're on site — site supervisors can ask to see it.
- Lost cards can be replaced through the regulator that issued them.
Add your White Card to your HireVis profile — employers filter searches by it, so profiles with a White Card get seen more often.