Your Complete Guide to NDIS Certification and Verification Audits

NDIS Certification and Verification Audits: What Every Provider Needs to Know

Whether you’re new to NDIS registration or preparing for a renewal, understanding the type of audit your organisation needs is critical. Understanding the difference between certification and verification – and what’s required for each – can be the key to a smooth and successful audit experience.

In this guide, we’ll break down what each type of audit involves, who needs which type, and how to prepare so you can meet the NDIS Practice Standards with confidence.

The Purpose of an NDIS Audit

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission requires all registered providers to undergo an audit to ensure they’re delivering safe, quality services in line with the NDIS Practice Standards.

Audits help verify that your systems are in place, your team is capable, and your service is both ethical and effective. Depending on the nature of the supports you offer, your audit will fall into one of two categories.

Verification vs Certification Audits: What’s the Difference?

What Is a Verification Audit?

A verification audit is required for providers delivering lower-risk or less complex supports and services. These services may include:

• Household Tasks
• Plan management
• Therapeutic services (e.g., speech therapy, psychology, OT)

Key Features:

• Desktop audit only
• No site visits or staff interviews
• Conducted by an approved NDIS quality auditor

Evidence Required:

• Policies and procedures
• Worker screening and police checks
• Evidence of qualifications and professional memberships
• Insurance documents (public liability, workers compensation, etc.)
• Incident and complaints registers

What Is a Certification Audit?

A certification audit is required for providers delivering higher-risk, personal care, or daily living supports, such as:

• Assistance with daily personal activities
• Community and centre-based programs
• Supported independent living (SIL)
• High intensity supports

Key Features:

• Multi-stage audit, including:
  • Stage 1: Documentation Review (desktop assessment)
  • Stage 2: Onsite Assessment, including interviews with staff, management, and participants
• May include visits to various service delivery locations

Evidence you’ll be asked for may:

• Organisational policies and procedures
• Records of staff qualifications and training
• Governance documents (e.g., org chart, delegation of authority)
• Risk management framework
• Feedback and complaints handling systems
• Incident management and response records
• Participant files and service agreements

How to Determine Your Audit Type

Your audit type is based on the registration groups you apply for.

Not sure what applies to you? The NDIS Registration Guide to Suitability outlines which supports require certification vs verification. When in doubt, speak to an NDIS audit consultant or auditor to avoid confusion down the line.

Building Your NDIS Audit Readiness Toolkit

When it comes to your NDIS audit, preparation isn’t just about ticking boxes – it’s about creating a strong foundation that reflects how your organisation operates in practice. Whether you’re heading into a Certification or Verification audit, these core focus areas will help you feel confident, organised, and ready.

1. Start With a Service Snapshot

Begin by stepping back and looking at your organisation from an auditor’s perspective. Ask yourself:

• What supports do we deliver?
• What risk level does the supports carry?
• Who’s responsible for what across the organisation?

Having a clear snapshot of your service offering helps map what standards, policies, and evidence you’ll need to prepare.

2. Align Your Operations to the Standards

Don’t just read the NDIS Practice Standards – apply them. Go through each relevant module and ask:

• How do we meet this standard in our day-to-day work?
• Can we show proof of this in action?
• Where are our gaps?

Certification audits will cover broader governance, rights, service delivery, and the environment. Verification audits will hone in on key areas like human resources, risk, complaints, and incidents.

3. Strengthen Your Documentation Framework

Your documentation tells the story of your organisation. Think of it as your evidence trail. This should include:

• Clearly written, easy-to-follow policies
• Supporting forms, logs, and registers
• Staff records, training logs, and screening checks
• Completed risk assessments and participant agreements

Review your documents for:

• Relevance (does this reflect how we actually operate?)
• Accuracy (are dates, names, and processes correct?)
• Version control (is it clear when documents were last updated?)

4. Test Your Systems Before the Auditor Does

Set aside time to stress test your systems. This might include:

• Walking through a recent complaint or incident from report to resolution
• Reviewing how a new staff member is onboarded
• Checking how participant feedback is captured and acted on

Whether it’s a self-review or a consultant-led mock audit, these mini-rehearsals help uncover blind spots and clarify roles.

5. Bring Your Team Into the Process

Auditors want to hear from the people delivering supports – not just management (or a consultant). Make sure your team knows:

• What the audit is about
• What standards are most relevant to their role
• How their work contributes to safety, quality, and participant rights

Encourage them to be honest and practical. Auditors are looking for consistency and awareness, not perfection.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Many providers fall short in a few predictable areas:

• Policy templates that are not tailored to their service
• No documented evidence of feedback or continuous improvement
• Lack of staff training records
• Unclear governance structure

Avoid these common pitfalls by taking the time to:

• Customise your policies
• Maintain up-to-date registers
• Invest in simple but effective training systems

Where to From Here?

Getting through your NDIS audit doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re facing a verification or certification audit, preparation is everything.

Understanding the expectations, collecting the right evidence, and engaging your team puts you in a strong position – not just to pass your audit, but to deliver safer, more effective services every day.

Need help with audit preparation?

Audit Ready Consultants offer tailored support for both certification and verification audits. From document review to pre-audit coaching, we’ll help you feel confident and compliant. Reach out to us today for an obligation free chat about your upcoming audit.