NDIS Registered vs Unregistered Providers: What Is the Difference

The NDIS provider market is much larger than most people realise. According to the NDIA's Q1 2025-26 quarterly report:

• 17,374 registered providers — independently audited, worker-screened, subject to NDIS Practice Standards
• 257,318 unregistered providers — bound by the NDIS Code of Conduct but not independently audited

That means roughly 6% of providers are registered and 94% are unregistered. This does not mean unregistered providers are unsafe — but it does mean the oversight mechanisms are different.

Understanding these differences is essential for making an informed choice.

To become NDIS registered, a provider must:

• Apply to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission with evidence of their qualifications, policies, and procedures
• Pass an independent audit against the NDIS Practice Standards — either a verification audit (lower-risk supports) or a certification audit (higher-risk supports)
• Ensure all workers in risk-assessed roles hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check — a national criminal history and conduct check valid for 5 years
• Maintain compliance — registered providers face ongoing auditing (typically every 3 years), random compliance checks, and mandatory incident reporting
• Meet the NDIS Practice Standards — detailed quality and safety requirements covering governance, service delivery, participant rights, risk management, and more

Registration is a significant investment. The audit process alone can cost thousands of dollars, and providers must maintain systems and documentation to stay compliant.

Unregistered providers are not unregulated. Since 1 July 2018, all NDIS providers — registered or not — must comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct. The Code has 7 requirements:

• Act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making
• Respect the privacy of people with disability
• Provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill
• Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency
• Promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of supports
• Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse
• Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct

The NDIS Commission can investigate complaints about any provider — registered or unregistered — and take enforcement action including banning orders and infringement notices.

However, unregistered providers are not required to undergo independent audits, meet the NDIS Practice Standards, or ensure worker screening. The oversight is reactive (complaint-based) rather than proactive (audit-based).

Your plan management type determines your provider options:

NDIA-managed: You can only use registered providers. The NDIA pays providers directly and will only process claims from registered providers.

Plan-managed: You can use both registered and unregistered providers. Your plan manager processes the invoices — the provider does not need to be registered.

Self-managed: You can use both registered and unregistered providers. You pay the provider and claim reimbursement from the NDIA.

If you are NDIA-managed and want access to unregistered providers, the simplest path is to request plan management at your next plan review. Plan management is funded from a separate budget and does not reduce your other funding.

Registration matters most for higher-risk supports where the consequences of poor quality are severe:

• Supported Independent Living (SIL) — 24/7 support in shared or individual accommodation
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) — purpose-built housing for participants with extreme functional impairment
• Behaviour support — especially restrictive practices (these must always be delivered by registered providers)
• Complex personal care — including bowel care, catheter management, and other clinical supports
• Therapy services for children — where the power imbalance and vulnerability are greatest

For lower-risk supports (like domestic assistance, transport, gardening), the difference between registered and unregistered may be less significant — though the audit and screening requirements of registration still provide an extra layer of protection.

The NDIS Commission has announced significant registration changes effective 1 July 2026:

Mandatory registration for SIL providers: All providers delivering Supported Independent Living must be registered. This closes a gap where some SIL providers were operating unregistered despite the high-risk nature of their supports.

Mandatory registration for platform providers: Online platforms that facilitate connections between participants and providers (booking, payment, or claiming functions) will need to register. This applies to platforms that go beyond pure directory listings.

Support coordination registration status: The mandatory registration requirement for support coordinators was paused in December 2025 pending further consultation. Currently, support coordinators can operate as unregistered providers (serving plan-managed and self-managed participants).

These changes reflect a broader push towards stronger quality oversight for higher-risk supports, while maintaining flexibility for lower-risk services.

You can verify registration status through:

• NDIS Commission Provider Register — the official searchable register at ndiscommission.gov.au. Search by provider name or registration number.
• Ability Directory — our listings indicate whether providers are NDIS registered, based on Commission data.
• Ask the provider directly — registered providers will have a registration number and can show you their registration certificate.

If a provider claims to be registered but you cannot find them on the register, contact the NDIS Commission to verify.

There is no single right answer — it depends on your situation:

• Consider registered providers when:**
• You are receiving higher-risk supports (SIL, behaviour support, complex personal care)
• You want the assurance of independent quality audits and worker screening
• You are new to the NDIS and unsure how to assess provider quality
• Your plan is NDIA-managed (you have no choice — registered only)

• Unregistered providers may be a good option when:**
• You are in a regional or remote area where registered options are limited
• You have found a provider with strong qualifications and references, even though they are not NDIS registered
• You want more flexibility on service delivery models or scheduling
• You are confident in your ability to assess provider quality independently

The most important thing is to check qualifications, ask questions, and trust your judgement. Registration is a strong signal of quality — but it is not the only signal.