Registered vs unregistered NDIS providers: what's the difference?

An NDIS provider is anyone who delivers supports to NDIS participants. A registered provider has been assessed and registered by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (the NDIS Commission). An unregistered provider hasn't, and can only deliver some supports to some participants.

What registration involves

A registered NDIS provider has:

• applied for registration with the NDIS Commission
• been audited against the relevant NDIS Practice Standards and assessed as meeting them
• passed a suitability assessment of the provider and its key personnel
• received a certificate of registration.

Registered providers are generally registered for three years and are listed on the NDIS Provider Register. See how to become an NDIS provider for the steps.

When you must be registered

You must be registered to:

• support participants whose funding is NDIA-managed
• provide specialist disability accommodation (SDA)
• provide specialist behaviour support services
• provide plan management
• provide supported independent living (SIL) or an NDIS digital platform service (from 1 July 2026)
• use, or be likely to use, regulated restrictive practices.

Residential aged care providers that deliver supports to NDIS participants must also be registered.

Mandatory registration was also considered for support coordination, but that reform is paused. Separately, the Government has announced that from 1 July 2028 the NDIA will appoint support coordination providers directly, and support coordination won't be funded individually in participant plans. Read about the registration changes.

Who unregistered providers can support

Unregistered providers can deliver supports, other than those listed above, to participants who self-manage or plan-manage their NDIS funding. Only those participants can choose an unregistered provider.

What's changing from 2027

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026 and related Government announcements will change who can stay unregistered. None of these applies yet: two are announced and one is only a recommendation.

• Expanded registration (from 1 July 2027). Mandatory registration will expand to providers of higher-risk supports. The Government will publish the list; personal care, daily living supports and supports provided in closed settings are given as examples. All providers in scope must be registered by December 2030.
• Enrolment with the NDIA (from 1 July 2027). Most providers will need to enrol with the NDIA, giving basic identifying information and a validated bank account, to be paid. The Government says this is separate from registration. All providers in scope are to be enrolled by December 2027.
• Lower prices for some unregistered supports (recommended only). The NDIA's Annual Pricing Review for 2026-27 prices recommends a 10% lower price limit, and no indexation, for Social, Community and Civic Participation supports delivered by unregistered providers from 1 January 2027. The 2026-27 pricing schedule doesn't include it.

See every date on the registration changes page.

Rules that apply to everyone

Registration changes what you have to prove and how you're audited, but some obligations apply whether or not you're registered:

• NDIS Code of Conduct. Registered and unregistered providers, their key personnel and their workers must all follow it.
• Worker screening. Registered providers must make sure key personnel and workers in risk-assessed roles have an NDIS worker screening clearance. For unregistered providers it isn't a legal requirement, but the NDIS Commission recommends it, and participants can require it.
• Price limits. The maximum prices in the NDIS pricing schedule (set by the Minister on the NDIA's advice) apply to supports for NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants.

Extra obligations for registered providers

Registered providers must meet their conditions of registration, including:

• the NDIS Practice Standards that apply to their registration groups
• effective complaints and incident management systems, including reporting certain incidents
• worker screening for key personnel and risk-assessed roles
• telling the NDIS Commission about certain changes and events
• audits during the registration period, such as a mid-term audit for most certification providers
• behaviour support requirements, if they apply, including reporting the use of regulated restrictive practices.

Delivering supports under another provider's registration

Some unregistered providers, including sole traders and subcontractors, deliver supports under a registered provider's registration through a facilitation or brokerage arrangement. The registered provider must be the one that claims payment, is responsible for everything delivered under its registration, and must make the arrangement transparent to participants.

Which is right for you?

Take the registration check to see which rules apply to your services and participants. If you'll register, compare registration groups and estimate the costs.