Can I use an unregistered provider if I am plan managed?

Yes, for most support types. The exceptions are supports that require a registered provider, such as Specialist Disability Accommodation, Supported Independent Living, plan management itself, and behaviour support involving regulated restrictive practices.

What is the difference between a registered and an unregistered provider?

A registered provider has completed registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and is subject to audits and compliance checks. An unregistered provider has not, but can still deliver quality supports. Both must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct when delivering NDIS funded supports.

Do unregistered providers have to follow NDIS pricing?

A plan manager cannot pay any amount above the NDIS Pricing Schedule limit, whoever the provider is. Unregistered providers can technically set their own prices, but fair pricing rules under the Code of Conduct still apply, and anything above the limit cannot be claimed.

Are the registration rules changing?

Yes. From 1 July 2026, SIL and NDIS digital platform providers must be registered, with existing unregistered SIL providers able to keep delivering if they apply by 1 October 2026. Further changes are expected over time.

Can I switch to an unregistered provider mid plan?

Yes. You can engage a new provider at any time, as long as a service agreement is in place and the support is within your current plan funding. Let your First2Care specialist know and we will set the new provider up.

Unregistered Providers and Plan Management

Q: Does my unregistered provider need a Worker Screening Check?

Sometimes, particularly for personal care, work with children, or other higher risk supports. Even where it is not mandatory, it is reasonable to ask whether the provider holds one before you engage them.

Updated Aug 2026 • 5 min read

Can You Use Unregistered Providers with Plan Management?

Flat vector illustration of a plan managed NDIS participant choosing between a registered and an unregistered provider, both marked with a purple checkmark.

Yes. If you are plan managed, you can use both registered and unregistered NDIS providers for most supports, and this is one of the biggest advantages plan management has over NDIA management.

Being able to choose from a wider pool of providers means more flexibility in who delivers your supports, greater access to independent and community based practitioners, and often a better match between the people in your plan and what you need. Here is how it works in practice, what the rules are, what to check before you engage an unregistered provider, and what is changing from 1 July 2026.

In this guide

01

What is an unregistered NDIS provider

02

Registered and unregistered providers, side by side

03

Can you use unregistered providers for any support

04

What is changing from 1 July 2026

05

What to check before using an unregistered provider

06

How your plan manager handles invoices from unregistered providers

07

How to find an unregistered provider

08

How First2Care can help

09

Frequently asked questions

10

Talk to First2care about plan management

What is an unregistered NDIS provider?

An unregistered NDIS provider delivers services that the NDIS can fund, but has not completed registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Registration is optional for most supports, and many small or new providers choose not to register because the process takes time, money, and effort.

Unregistered does not mean unqualified. Many experienced, highly skilled professionals choose not to register. Common examples include:

Independent support workers operating as sole traders.
Allied health professionals in private practice who have not pursued NDIS registration.
Smaller therapy practices, community organisations, or niche service providers.
Newer practitioners building their practice before registering.
Providers delivering lower risk supports that do not legally require registration.

What an unregistered provider does not have is the formal quality and safeguarding credential that comes with NDIS registration. That is why it is worth doing your own checks before you engage them, which we cover below.

Registered and unregistered providers, side by side

Both can deliver quality NDIS supports. The main difference is regulation and who can use them. Registered providers are registered with and audited by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and any participant can use them. Unregistered providers are not audited by the Commission, even though many hold professional registrations such as AHPRA, and only plan managed or self managed participants can use them.

Both must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and either way, a plan manager cannot pay any amount above the NDIS Pricing Schedule. Being unregistered does not mean a provider is unqualified or unsafe; what matters most is that they deliver quality support that fits your goals.

Can you use unregistered providers for any support?

Not quite. Most supports can be delivered by unregistered providers when you are plan managed, but some support types require a registered provider no matter how your plan is managed. These include:

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). Providers must be registered.
Supported Independent Living (SIL). Registration is now required, with a transition period explained below.
Behaviour support involving regulated restrictive practices. Only registered behaviour support practitioners can develop these plans.
Plan management itself. Your plan manager must be a registered NDIS provider.
NDIS digital platform providers. Registration is now required, alongside SIL.

For all other supports, including daily living assistance, community access, allied health therapies, and most capacity building supports, plan managed participants can use either registered or unregistered providers. If you are unsure whether a support needs a registered provider, your First2Care specialist can help you confirm.

What is changing from 1 July 2026?

To strengthen oversight of higher risk supports, the Australian Government has made registration mandatory for some provider types. From 1 July 2026, Supported Independent Living (SIL) and NDIS digital platform providers must be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

For SIL, there is a transition period worth understanding. An existing unregistered SIL provider who was delivering SIL before 1 July 2026 can keep delivering it if they apply for registration under the new SIL registration group by 1 October 2026. From 1 October 2026, plan managers should reject invoices from SIL providers who are neither registered nor have applied. There is also a new SIL claim item (0138) for supports delivered from 1 July 2026.

If you use SIL supports, your plan and funding do not change. The main step is to ask your provider whether they are registered, or plan to register before 1 October 2026, and the NDIS will help you find a registered provider if yours does not, as set out in the NDIS update on mandatory registration for SIL and platform providers

Registration is not the only 1 July 2026 change: the annual NDIS Pricing Schedule also took effect, as explained in our guide NDIS Pricing Changes 2026–27: What This Means for You.

Beyond 2026, further registration changes are expected, and many details are still being developed. First2Care will keep participants and providers updated as confirmed guidance becomes available. For now, plan managed participants can still use both registered and unregistered providers for most supports.

What to check before using an unregistered provider

The flexibility to use unregistered providers comes with a responsibility to do your own checks. A few simple ones help you make a confident, informed choice.

01 Qualifications and experience.
Ask about training, experience, and professional memberships. For allied health, check whether they hold current registration with AHPRA or their relevant professional body, which is separate from NDIS registration.

02 Insurance.
A well prepared provider should hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. It is reasonable to ask for evidence before you sign a service agreement.

03 NDIS Worker Screening Check.
This may be required for supports involving personal care, work with children, or other higher risk supports. Even where it is not mandatory, it is reasonable to ask whether the provider holds one.

04 The NDIS Code of Conduct.
All providers, registered or not, must follow the Code when delivering NDIS funded supports. It requires them to act with respect, deliver safe and competent support, and act with honesty and transparency (NDIS Commission: Code of Conduct).

05 A signed service agreement.
Before your plan manager can pay invoices from an unregistered provider, a service agreement needs to be in place setting out the services, price, and conditions. Do not start receiving services before it is signed.

06 Pricing.
A plan manager cannot pay any amount above the NDIS Pricing Schedule limit. If a provider quotes above the current limit for a support, discuss it before committing. Your plan manager can confirm the current limit.

How your plan manager handles invoices from unregistered providers

From a claiming and payment point of view, the process is the same as for registered providers. Your plan manager handles the claiming pathway, so you do not need to manage the distinction yourself.

Your provider sends the invoice. It should include your name and NDIS number, the support item number, the service date, the hours or units, the rate and total, and the provider’s ABN and bank details.

We check the invoice. Every invoice is checked against the current NDIS Pricing Schedule and your service agreement and plan budget. If there is an issue, we contact the provider to resolve it.

We submit the claim to the NDIA. First2Care submits complete, correct invoices promptly. The NDIA then usually pays valid claims within 2 to 3 business days, and up to about 10 business days if a claim needs checking.

Your provider is paid. When invoices arrive with the correct details, this process runs smoothly. If your provider is new to working with a plan manager, our team can guide them through it.

For the official payment timings, see the NDIS Guide to getting paid.

First2Care website grey blob 2_edited_edited.png

How to find an unregistered provider

Finding the right provider, registered or not, starts with knowing what you need and what is available near you. Here are a few practical steps to help:

01 Ask your support coordinator.
If you have one, they can help identify providers, including unregistered options, that suit your needs and location.

02 Ask other participants.
Recommendations from other participants are one of the most common ways people find good providers, and local disability community groups are often a good source.

03 Check professional directories.
Many allied health professionals are listed through their professional body, such as AHPRA, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, or Speech Pathology Australia, even if they are not NDIS registered.

04 Talk to your First2Care specialist.
We do not recommend specific providers, but we can confirm whether a provider you are considering can be paid through your plan and whether the support type suits an unregistered provider.

05 The choice of provider is always yours.
Plan management simply gives you the freedom to make that choice from a wider pool.

How First2Care can help

First2Care is an independent NDIS plan manager, and we support your choice of provider by checking every invoice against the current NDIS Pricing Schedule, your service agreement, and your budget before it goes to the NDIA whether they are registered or not. If a provider is new to working with a plan manager, we help them get set up.

And as the registration rules change over the coming years, we will explain how any change affects your situation. If you would like help getting started with a new provider, we are happy to talk it through.

Being able to use unregistered providers is one of the most practical benefits of plan management. It gives you access to providers who may be a better fit for your needs, your location, and your goals. With a few simple checks in place, it can be a safe and flexible way to build the support team that works for you. When you are ready to talk it through, the First2Care team is here to help.

FAQ About NDIS Plan Management

Talk to First2Care about plan management

If you want to use a trusted unregistered provider, or you are exploring plan management, we are happy to talk it through, with no pressure. First2Care is an independent, registered NDIS plan manager, and we check and pay invoices from registered and unregistered providers alike.

Join First2Care today →

Book a free online chat→

Call 1300 322 273

NDIS Bill Has Passed the Senate: What Happens Next?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026 passed Parliament on 19 August 2026. The Governor-General signed the new laws on 20 August 2026, and the first changes will begin on 27 August 2026. The laws change several parts of the NDIS at different times. This article explains what was originally proposed, what the Senate amendments clarified, what happens next, and what the confirmed changes may mean for NDIS partici

Illustration of payment processing delays. Several invoices and payment documents are shown beside a laptop displaying an alert notification, with coins and a clock symbolising pending claims, processing timeframes, and delayed payments to NDIS providers.

NDIS Payment Timeframes: A Practical Guide for Providers

You delivered the support. You sent the invoice. Now you are waiting. If you are an independent support worker, a sole trader therapist, or a small practice, payment timing is not an abstract admin question. It is your rent, your insurance, your team's wages. This article breaks down some new NDIS procedures and goes over established best practice to help you do all you can to be paid on time. How NDIS provider payments work For plan managed participants, your invoice goes to

First2Care Illustration showing a person trying to understand NDIS support categories while a nearby document is marked "Rejected." Question marks and the rejected claim symbolise uncertainty about funding rules, support classifications, and the importance of choosing the correct support category when submitting claims.

NDIS Support Categories: A Guide to Accurate Invoicing

Most rejected NDIS invoices have nothing to do with the quality of your work. They come down to something far less interesting: the claim was made against the wrong support category, or against a budget that has already been fully used. If you support plan managed participants, knowing how the NDIS support categories are structured protects your cash flow and saves everyone extra emails. This guide to NDIS support categories for providers covers exactly what you need to invoi

First2Care is a registered NDIS plan management provider (ABN: 24 601 046 155), registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. This article is for general information purposes. For advice specific to your individual plan, please speak with your NDIA planner, Local Area Coordinator, or the First2Care team directly.

Can You Use Unregistered Providers with Plan Management?

In this guide

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

What is an unregistered NDIS provider?

Registered and unregistered providers, side by side

Can you use unregistered providers for any support?

What is changing from 1 July 2026?

What to check before using an unregistered provider

01

Qualifications and experience. Ask about training, experience, and professional memberships. For allied health, check whether they hold current registration with AHPRA or their relevant professional body, which is separate from NDIS registration.

02

Insurance. A well prepared provider should hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. It is reasonable to ask for evidence before you sign a service agreement.

03

NDIS Worker Screening Check. This may be required for supports involving personal care, work with children, or other higher risk supports. Even where it is not mandatory, it is reasonable to ask whether the provider holds one.

04

The NDIS Code of Conduct. All providers, registered or not, must follow the Code when delivering NDIS funded supports. It requires them to act with respect, deliver safe and competent support, and act with honesty and transparency (NDIS Commission: Code of Conduct).

05

A signed service agreement. Before your plan manager can pay invoices from an unregistered provider, a service agreement needs to be in place setting out the services, price, and conditions. Do not start receiving services before it is signed.

06

Pricing. A plan manager cannot pay any amount above the NDIS Pricing Schedule limit. If a provider quotes above the current limit for a support, discuss it before committing. Your plan manager can confirm the current limit.

How your plan manager handles invoices from unregistered providers

How to find an unregistered provider

01

Ask your support coordinator. If you have one, they can help identify providers, including unregistered options, that suit your needs and location.

02

Ask other participants. Recommendations from other participants are one of the most common ways people find good providers, and local disability community groups are often a good source.

03

Check professional directories. Many allied health professionals are listed through their professional body, such as AHPRA, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, or Speech Pathology Australia, even if they are not NDIS registered.

04

Talk to your First2Care specialist. We do not recommend specific providers, but we can confirm whether a provider you are considering can be paid through your plan and whether the support type suits an unregistered provider.

05

The choice of provider is always yours. Plan management simply gives you the freedom to make that choice from a wider pool.

How First2Care can help

FAQ About NDIS Plan Management

Can I use an unregistered provider if I am plan managed?

What is the difference between a registered and an unregistered provider?

Do unregistered providers have to follow NDIS pricing?

Does my unregistered provider need a Worker Screening Check?

Are the registration rules changing?

Can I switch to an unregistered provider mid plan?

Talk to First2Care about plan management

Read more from First2Care

NDIS Bill Has Passed the Senate: What Happens Next?

NDIS Payment Timeframes: A Practical Guide for Providers

NDIS Support Categories: A Guide to Accurate Invoicing

Qualifications and experience.
Ask about training, experience, and professional memberships. For allied health, check whether they hold current registration with AHPRA or their relevant professional body, which is separate from NDIS registration.

Insurance.
A well prepared provider should hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance. It is reasonable to ask for evidence before you sign a service agreement.

NDIS Worker Screening Check.
This may be required for supports involving personal care, work with children, or other higher risk supports. Even where it is not mandatory, it is reasonable to ask whether the provider holds one.

The NDIS Code of Conduct.
All providers, registered or not, must follow the Code when delivering NDIS funded supports. It requires them to act with respect, deliver safe and competent support, and act with honesty and transparency (NDIS Commission: Code of Conduct).

A signed service agreement.
Before your plan manager can pay invoices from an unregistered provider, a service agreement needs to be in place setting out the services, price, and conditions. Do not start receiving services before it is signed.

Pricing.
A plan manager cannot pay any amount above the NDIS Pricing Schedule limit. If a provider quotes above the current limit for a support, discuss it before committing. Your plan manager can confirm the current limit.

Ask your support coordinator.
If you have one, they can help identify providers, including unregistered options, that suit your needs and location.

Ask other participants.
Recommendations from other participants are one of the most common ways people find good providers, and local disability community groups are often a good source.

Check professional directories.
Many allied health professionals are listed through their professional body, such as AHPRA, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, or Speech Pathology Australia, even if they are not NDIS registered.

Talk to your First2Care specialist.
We do not recommend specific providers, but we can confirm whether a provider you are considering can be paid through your plan and whether the support type suits an unregistered provider.

The choice of provider is always yours.
Plan management simply gives you the freedom to make that choice from a wider pool.