Certification and verification

The two audit pathways used when a provider registers with the NDIS Commission, depending on the supports they deliver.

What it means

Certification and verification are the two audit pathways used when a provider registers with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Both are ways of checking that a provider is suitable to deliver supports, but they differ in how thorough the assessment is.

Verification is the lighter pathway, used for lower-risk supports. It involves a more limited check of the provider. Certification is the more thorough pathway, used for higher-risk or more complex supports. It involves an audit against the NDIS Practice Standards, which set out what good, safe support looks like. Which pathway applies depends on the supports the provider delivers.

In practice

A provider does not choose their pathway freely. The supports they intend to deliver determine whether they go through verification or certification. A provider offering only lower-risk supports may go through verification, while a provider offering more complex or higher-risk supports goes through certification. A provider delivering both may need to meet the certification requirements.

For participants, the pathway gives a sense of the level of assessment a registered provider has been through. Certification against the NDIS Practice Standards is a more detailed check suited to supports where the stakes are higher. If you want to understand how a provider was assessed, you can ask them, or check with your support coordinator or plan manager. Both pathways are legitimate ways to become a registered provider.

A real example

For example, Daniel runs a service that delivers complex, higher-risk supports. Because of the nature of what he offers, he goes through certification, which means an audit against the NDIS Practice Standards. A nearby provider offering only lower-risk supports goes through verification instead, which is a lighter assessment.

Certification and verification — FAQs

What is the difference between certification and verification?
They are the two audit pathways for registering with the NDIS Commission. Verification is a lighter assessment used for lower-risk supports. Certification is a more thorough audit against the NDIS Practice Standards, used for higher-risk or more complex supports. The difference is how detailed the assessment is, and which one applies depends on the supports the provider delivers.
Which pathway does a provider go through?
It depends on the supports the provider intends to deliver, not on their own preference. Lower-risk supports generally require verification, while higher-risk or more complex supports require certification. A provider delivering a mix of supports may need to meet the certification requirements. The nature of the supports drives which pathway applies.
What are the NDIS Practice Standards?
The NDIS Practice Standards set out what good, safe support looks like for registered providers. In the certification pathway, a provider is audited against these standards to check they meet them. They cover areas of quality and safety expected of providers delivering higher-risk or more complex supports.
Is certification better than verification?
Neither is better. They are matched to different levels of risk. Verification suits lower-risk supports and is a lighter check, while certification suits higher-risk or complex supports and is more thorough. Both are legitimate ways to become a registered provider. What matters is that the pathway fits the supports being delivered.
How do I know how my provider was assessed?
You can ask the provider whether they went through certification or verification, or check with your support coordinator or plan manager. The pathway reflects the type of supports they deliver, so a provider offering complex supports will generally have been certified against the NDIS Practice Standards, while one offering lower-risk supports may have been verified.

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