The Official Timeline vs Reality
The NDIS Commission suggests registration takes "approximately 3-6 months." In reality, most providers experience 7-9 months from start to finish.
Phase 1: Pre-Application Preparation (4-8 weeks)
What happens:
- Business structure decisions
- Insurance procurement
- Policy development
- Staff screening initiation
- Self-assessment preparation
Why it takes longer than expected:
- Insurance quotes take 1-2 weeks
- Worker screening can take 4-6 weeks
- Policy development is more complex than anticipated
Phase 2: Application Submission (1-2 weeks)
What happens:
- Portal account setup
- Application form completion
- Document uploads
- Self-assessment submission
- Payment of application fee
Phase 3: Commission Review (4-8 weeks)
What happens:
- Initial application assessment
- Request for additional information (common)
- Suitability assessment
- Registration group confirmation
Why delays occur:
- High application volumes
- Incomplete applications
- RFIs (Requests for Information)
Phase 4: Audit Scheduling (2-4 weeks)
What happens:
- Auditor selection
- Quote comparison
- Audit booking
- Pre-audit documentation
Phase 5: Audit (1-4 weeks)
Verification: 1-2 weeks (desktop only) Certification: 2-4 weeks (includes site visit)
Phase 6: Post-Audit (4-12 weeks)
What happens:
- Non-conformance resolution (if any)
- Audit report finalisation
- Commission review of audit report
- Registration decision
- Certificate issuance
Total Realistic Timeline
Verification pathway: 5-7 months Certification pathway: 7-12 months
