Apply for registration

If you would like to become a registered provider, this page explains the steps involved in the application process.

If you are re-applying for registration, submit an application for registration in the NDIS Commission Registered Providers Portal before the expiry of your current registration period. Your registration will remain valid until we make a decision on your application. 

Before you apply

1. Make sure you’re eligible

You must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and  
• be able to demonstrate your ability to deliver the classes of supports and services you’re applying for. This includes providing evidence. Learn more about what’s involved in an audit before you start your application.

2. Check your workers have been screened

Make sure all workers who are in risk-assessed roles have a valid worker screening clearance.  

You can apply for access to the NDIS Worker Screening Database to check the NDIS Worker Screening clearance status of your workers.  

Note: Failing to ensure relevant workers, including key personnel, have a valid worker screening clearance may lead to delays in your application being processed.  

3. Prepare to apply

You’ll need:

• a PRODA account. If you don’t have one, you can register for a PRODA account
• your organisation’s details, including corporate structure, governance arrangements and locations
• your key personnel’s details, including their names, date of birth and contact details
• the NDIS supports and services you plan to provide, and
• supporting evidence (if required) to show you meet certain requirements.

It may also be helpful to:

• familiarise yourself with the NDIS Practice Standards
• review your current policies and procedures against the requirements of the NDIS practice standards
• develop an action plan if there are any gaps or areas needing improvement
• make sure you have information ready about all your key personnel and the registration groups or classes of support you are applying for, as we look at these carefully  
• train relevant staff about the NDIS Practice Standards and the upcoming audit process
• give information to participants and their advocates about the audit process and how they may be involved. 

The application process

1. Apply online

• Log in to the NDIS Commission Applications Portal.
• Select ‘New application to be registered as an NDIS Provider’.
• Complete and submit an application.

Log in

The application form includes:

• specifying the registration groups or classes of support you’re applying for 
• a self-assessment against the applicable NDIS Practice Standards, including evidence to support comments, and
• questions about the suitability of the applicant and key personnel. For example, has the applicant or any key personnel ever been declared bankrupt or convicted of an indictable offence.  

The details you provide must be accurate and truthful. If you provide false or misleading information in your application, we may refuse your application.

You must complete your application within 60 days of starting it or it will be deleted and you will need to start again.

2. Get audited

During a quality audit an auditor assesses you against the NDIS Practice Standards that are relevant to your application. See more information at the quality audit process.

When you submit your application, you will get an email with an Initial scope of audit document that explains:

• the type of audit you need - either a verification audit or certification audit, depending on the risk level of your proposed supports and services
• your registration groups (also known as classes of support)
• your types of service delivery  
• the relevant NDIS Practice Standards  
• the information you need to share with your auditor.

Start the quality audit process:

• you are responsible for engaging an independent auditor to complete the quality audit – see audit costs
• you will choose an auditor from our list of approved quality auditors and use the Initial scope of audit document to request a quote. We recommend:
  • getting more than one quote
  • asking the auditor questions to make sure they are suitable for your organisation.

When the audit is complete, the auditor may ask you to fix any issues identified during the audit process. The auditor then submits a recommendation to the NDIS Commission.

3. Application review

The NDIS Commission will consider the auditor’s recommendation and assess your suitability as a provider, including your key personnel.

We may ask for additional information.

Learn more about the suitability assessment process in our Suitability assessment process guide.  

4. We’ll let you know our decision

We’ll contact you to let you know if your application has been approved or refused. If we are planning to refuse your application, you will be invited to provide information before a final decision is made.

The time taken to process your application depends on the size and scale of your organisation. It also depends on the range of supports and services you deliver and how complex these are.

If you disagree with the decision, you can contact us and ask for a review within three months of the decision. If your application is still unsuccessful following the review, you can ask for a further review by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

5. Get your certificate of registration

Successful applicants will get a certificate of registration that has:

• the services or supports you are registered to provide, including your registration groups or classes of support
• the period of registration, and  
• any conditions you must comply with to maintain your registration.

Your registration details will be published on our Provider Register. 

6. After your successful registration

Once you have successfully registered as a NDIS provider, you can maintain your quality practice by:

• looking at your Certificate of Registration that includes:
  • your period of registration
  • your renewal date
  • any conditions of your registration
• understanding your obligations and conditions of registration, for example NDIS Practice Standards and related Rules under the NDIS
• reviewing your existing policies, procedures, and systems to identify any gaps
• develop or update policies, procedures, and systems to fill the gaps  
• support your staff to understand the requirements of the NDIS Practice Standards, including completing the mandatory NDIS Worker Orientation Module.
• renewing your registration before it expires.   

Using consultants, advice services or purchased policies to apply for registration

You are responsible for the content of your registration application. If you’ve used a consultant, consultancy service, advice service, or purchased policies to assist you with your application, the NDIS Commission expects that:

• you were substantially involved in preparing the application and associated documents
• you understand what you have submitted and can explain the content if required
• your application is an accurate representation of your organisation and key personnel
• you can demonstrate the suitability of your organisation to deliver disability supports and not rely on the expertise of the consultancy or advice service 
• the responses in your application are specific to your organisation and are not a direct copy of purchased documents 
• your application and supporting documents accurately set out how your organisation complies with NDIS provider responsibilities
• the policies you provide must accurately reflect how your organisation will deliver NDIS supports.

Consultants and advice services that provide the same or very similar information and advice to multiple providers may indicate a lack of understanding on behalf of organisation and its key personnel of the relevant NDIS Practice Standards and associated documents. Providing the same or similar information in your application may subvert the quality audit process and suitability assessment functions of the NDIS Commission. This increases the risk that your application includes false or misleading information, and your application may be refused.  

Providing false or misleading information in an application for registration is a contravention of section 73D of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act) punishable by civil penalty. It is a criminal offence under section 137.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Criminal Code). Existing registered NDIS providers may also have their registration suspended or revoked if they provide false or misleading information in an application for registration.
 

Help

If you have questions about the application or want to know the status of your application, email registration@ndiscommission.gov.au

If you need technical help with the NDIS Commission Portal or your registration application, email nqsc.ictsupport@ndiscommission.gov.au.

If you need help with PRODA, call 1800 700 199.