NDIS Registration Class Explained: Single Person, Small, Medium, Large

Single Person Provider Class

A Single Person Provider delivers supports to one participant only, usually from one location. This is the simplest class. Your audit is a Verification audit (not Certification), costing $1,500-$2,500. Verification is lighter than Certification - the auditor reviews your files, interviews you, and checks your premises. No site visit to multiple locations. Renewal happens every three years. This class suits sole traders, individual support workers, or family-run services with one participant. The catch: if you ever take on a second participant, you must upgrade to Small Provider. Changing classes mid-registration requires a new application. Plan ahead. If you're likely to grow within 18 months, register as Small instead.

Small Provider Class

Small Providers deliver supports to 2-10 participants or operate from multiple locations. Your audit is Certification (more rigorous than Verification), costing $3,500-$5,000. Certification includes Stage 1 desktop review and Stage 2 site visit. The auditor visits your premises, interviews staff, and reviews participant files in person. Renewal every three years. We registered as Small at Enrichment Care after our third participant. Certification is more thorough but manageable if your systems are solid. Small Provider is the sweet spot for most growing independent providers. You have enough scale to justify investment in quality systems, but not so much complexity that audits become nightmarish. If you're 3-8 participants and growing, register Small.

Medium and Large Provider Classes

Medium Providers (11-100 participants) and Large Providers (100+ participants) both use Certification audits. Costs scale significantly - Medium typically $8,000-$12,000, Large $12,000+. Both classes require more rigorous site visits, staff interviews, and documentation reviews. Medium and Large providers also face more frequent ongoing monitoring by the NDIA after registration. Auditors scrutinise governance, safety systems, and service delivery more intensely. Both classes require formal governance structures - a board or management committee with documented decision-making. If you're scaling to Medium, invest in systems early: proper shift rosters (ShiftCare or similar), incident logging, participant satisfaction surveys, staff training records. By the time you hit 11 participants, your systems should be audit-ready.

What Happens When You Outgrow Your Class?

Your class is based on participant count and locations at the time of registration. If you start as Small (6 participants) and grow to 12, you don't immediately re-audit. You notify the NDIA when you change scope (adding participants, services, or locations). The NDIA may request a scope change audit, depending on how significant your growth is. Scope changes don't automatically trigger full re-registration, but they do trigger reviews. We planned Enrichment Care's growth in tranches to avoid surprise scope change audits. Growing from 6 to 8 participants: no re-audit. Growing from 8 to 12: likely a scope change review. Strategic growth planning saves audit costs.

Choose Your Class Now, Plan Your Timeline

Don't guess your class. Be conservative - it's cheaper to over-register upfront than to switch classes mid-stream. If you're 2 participants but hiring, register as Small. If you're 8 participants and expanding to three locations, register as Medium. Talk to your auditor - they'll advise based on your trajectory. Your class choice locks in your audit cost and renewal frequency for three years. Choose wisely.