NDIS Provider Registration Explained: A Practical FAQ Guide for New Applicants
Becoming a registered NDIS provider is a regulated process run by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. It is not automatic. Your application is assessed against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards, and the Commission also assesses the suitability of both your organisation and its key personnel.
Below is a clear FAQ-style breakdown of what new applicants need to know, including how the audit works, what drives costs, how registration groups operate, and what worker screening and criminal history issues can mean for an application.
1) How do I become a registered NDIS provider?
At a high level, registration involves four components:
- You submit an application through the NDIS Commission portal, including your nominated registration groups and a self-assessment against the applicable Practice Standards.
- You complete the required quality audit through an approved quality auditor, who assesses you against the relevant Practice Standards and provides a recommendation to the Commission.
- The Commission conducts a suitability assessment of the provider and key personnel.
- If approved, you are issued a certificate of registration and become a registered NDIS provider.
Important compliance point. The Commission is explicit that you are responsible for the content of your application, that responses should be specific to your organisation, and that false or misleading information can lead to refusal and penalties.
2) How much does NDIS registration cost?
The Commission states there is no fee to register with the NDIS Commission, but providers must pay for an approved quality auditor to complete the required audit. Audit costs vary depending on the size and scale of the organisation and the number of participants supported, and the Commission does not set audit prices.
What this means in practice:
- Your main external cost driver is typically the audit (and any corrective actions required if non-conformities are found).
- You should obtain quotes from multiple approved quality auditors and compare them.
3) What do I register for, and what are registration groups?
You register for specific classes of supports and services, described as registration groups in the application process. The registration groups you select affect which NDIS Practice Standards modules apply and what type of audit you will need.
This choice matters because the Commission links audit type to risk and complexity. As general rules, verification audits apply to lower risk and lower complexity supports, and certification audits apply to higher risk supports.
A separate point many applicants miss. Registration is mandatory for certain service types and situations, including SDA, specialist behaviour support, supports delivered to NDIA-managed participants, plan management, and if you intend to use regulated restrictive practices.
4) What are key personnel?
The NDIS Commission defines key personnel as individuals in significant roles who are responsible for executive decisions or have authority or significant influence over planning, directing, or controlling provider activities. This can include the CEO, executive staff, managers, and board members.
During registration you must provide details of all key personnel, and the Commission uses this information as part of the suitability assessment, including consideration of past convictions, enforcement actions, fraud, or other events that may make a person unsuitable.
The Commission also notes that all board members are considered key personnel, and key personnel are required to have a worker screening clearance in accordance with the Worker Screening Rules.
5) Can I register if I do not have NDIS experience?
Yes. The Commission does not state you must have prior NDIS experience to apply. What it does require is that you can demonstrate your ability to deliver the supports you are applying for and that you can meet the audit and suitability requirements.
The practical risk for new applicants is not “lack of experience,” it is failing to show that systems are already in place, proportionate to your scope, and understood by key personnel. The Commission explicitly expects applicants to be substantially involved in preparing the application and to understand and be able to explain what they submit.
6) What happens during the audit?
An approved quality auditor assesses you against the NDIS Practice Standards that apply to your registration groups and then submits a recommendation to the Commission.
The Commission outlines the main audit types as:
- Verification audit, generally for lower risk and lower complexity supports
- Certification audit, for higher risk supports
- Mid-term audit, for providers who completed a certification audit, completed 18 months into the registration period
- Condition of registration audit, which may be required during the registration period
For new registered providers, the Commission also notes that some providers may be required to complete parts of a quality audit involving NDIS participant engagement within a timeframe after commencing service delivery.
7) What happens if I have a criminal record, and what about NDIS Worker Screening and WWCC?
A criminal record does not automatically mean a provider will be refused, but it is relevant to the Commission’s suitability assessment of both the provider and key personnel. The application process includes suitability questions about matters such as convictions, and the Commission may refuse applications where information is false or misleading.
Separately, worker screening is a core requirement:
- Before applying, the Commission states you need to ensure key personnel and workers in risk-assessed roles have an NDIS worker screening clearance.
- The Commission defines risk-assessed roles and confirms that key personnel fall within worker screening clearance requirements.
- Worker screening checks are administered through state or territory worker screening units, and in some contexts an additional Working With Children Check may also be required.
Working With Children Checks are governed by state and territory laws. The NDIS also notes that providers caring for children must have a Working With Children Check under state and territory requirements.
If criminal history is involved, the key compliance issue is disclosure and suitability assessment. The Commission’s suitability assessment guide sets out that providers and key personnel are assessed for suitability to deliver NDIS support and services.
This article was published on 18/02/2026. We strive to keep our content accurate and up to date; however, NDIS Commission rules and requirements can change. For the latest information, visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website or contact our team.
