Choosing Your NDIS Services and Registration Groups
NDIS registration groups set what supports you can deliver and which audit you face. How to choose the right ones in 2026 without over-scoping cost.
What NDIS registration groups actually are
How many groups there are, and what they cover
Verification vs certification: the cost lever hiding in your groups
How to choose which registration groups to register for
Worked example: a sole trader deciding scope
Qualification and staffing gates
What changed in 2026 — and why it affects your group choice
Do registration groups matter if you stay unregistered?
Common mistakes providers make with registration groups
Adding or changing groups later
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
How many NDIS registration groups are there?
The NDIS Commission maintains roughly 40 registration groups covering everything from household tasks and community access to Supported Independent Living and specialist clinical supports. You only register for the groups matching supports you'll actually deliver. Confirm the current list on ndiscommission.gov.au, since groups are added and updated — for example group 0138 for Assistance with SIL from 1 July 2026.
What is the difference between a registration group and a support category?
A support category (like Core or Capacity Building) is set by the NDIA and determines which part of a participant's budget pays for a support. A registration group is set by the Commission and determines what a registered provider is approved to deliver and which audit and Practice Standards apply. A third layer — the PAPL line item — sets the actual price limit you can charge. They are three separate systems that many providers confuse.
Which registration groups need a certification audit instead of verification?
Higher-risk groups such as Supported Independent Living, personal care, High Intensity Daily Personal Activities and specialist behaviour support generally require certification — a two-stage audit including an on-site assessment. Lower-risk groups such as household tasks, community participation, therapeutic supports and plan management generally require the lighter verification audit. If any one group needs certification, your whole audit is a certification audit, so confirm each group's pathway on the Commission's guidance before applying.
Can I add registration groups after I'm already registered?
Yes. You can apply to add groups during your registration period. The Commission assesses whether your current audit covers the new scope or whether an additional audit is required. Adding a verification group to an existing registration is usually simple; adding a certification group to a verification-only registration typically triggers a certification audit, so it's often cheaper to register lean and expand into demand.
Do unregistered NDIS providers need to worry about registration groups?
Unregistered providers don't hold registration groups and aren't audited against them, but they still must match each service to the correct PAPL line item, price limit and plan budget to get paid. Registration groups also signal where mandatory registration is heading — SIL from 1 July 2026 and high-risk supports from 2027 — so knowing which groups your supports fall under tells you whether staying unregistered is viable for your services.