NPI Lookup

Use this free NPI Lookup to find any US healthcare provider in seconds. It is the fastest way to search the official National Provider Identifier registry, the same live NPI registry lookup data CMS publishes, with no login, no fee, and no limits. Whether you are a patient checking a doctor, a medical biller confirming a claim, or a credentialing specialist verifying a provider, you get instant access to the authoritative CMS record.

Run an NPI number lookup by name or number, do an NPI search by organization, or look up a provider by state and specialty. This tool works as a complete NPI finder, provider directory, and NPI database search in one place, powered by the official NPPES registry. Below you will find everything you need to know: what an NPI number is, the NPI meaning and what NPI stands for, how to look up an NPI, and how the NPI connects to Medicare, DEA, taxonomy, and state licensing, all in plain English. Start a search above at any time, or read on to understand exactly what you are looking at.

What Is an NPI Number?

NPI stands for National Provider Identifier, and the NPI meaning is simple: it is a unique 10-digit identification number assigned to healthcare providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It was created under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and became the mandatory standard provider identifier for electronic healthcare transactions in 2007. If you have ever seen a doctor, filled a prescription, or received an insurance statement, an NPI number was working quietly in the background to identify each provider involved. In healthcare, the NPI is the single identifier that ties a provider to their claims, referrals, and prescriptions, which is why an NPI look up is such a common first step in billing, credentialing, and patient verification.

What Does NPI Stand For?

NPI stands for National Provider Identifier. The name is literal: it is a national (used across all US states), provider-level, identifier. When people ask what NPI means or what NPI stands for in healthcare, this is the answer, one permanent number that identifies a provider on every claim, referral, and prescription.

Why the NPI Number Matters

The NPI replaced a confusing patchwork of provider numbers that insurers and government programs each issued separately. Today, a single NPI follows a provider throughout their entire career, no matter how many times they change employers, move states, or update their name.

Because it never changes and never expires, the NPI is the reliable anchor for medical billing, insurance claims, referrals, credentialing, and provider verification across the whole US healthcare system. That permanence is exactly why an NPI lookup is so useful, one number reliably identifies the same provider for life.

Who Receives an NPI?

Any healthcare provider covered by HIPAA is required to obtain an NPI. This includes individual practitioners, physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists, and more, as well as organizations such as hospitals, clinics, group practices, pharmacies, laboratories, and home health agencies. Providers apply for free through the NPPES system, and their disclosable record becomes publicly searchable within a few business days.

Type 1 vs Type 2 NPI

There are two categories of NPI record, and understanding the difference makes every NPI lookup clearer:

Both types live in the same federal database, the NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System) Registry, which CMS maintains and updates daily. When you run an NPI lookup on this site, you are searching that exact registry live through the official CMS API, so the information you see is the same authoritative data used by insurers, hospitals, and billing systems nationwide.

How to Get an NPI Number

Providers do not buy or renew an NPI; they apply once, for free, through the NPPES system at nppes.cms.hhs.gov. To get an NPI number, a provider creates an Identity & Access account, submits their name, taxonomy (specialty), and practice address, and the disclosable record becomes publicly searchable within a few business days. This lookup tool does not issue NPIs, it helps you find, verify, and confirm an NPI that has already been assigned.

How to Find Your Own NPI Number

One of the most common searches is providers looking up their own NPI number. If you were assigned an NPI but cannot remember it, you do not need to log in anywhere or pay anything, your NPI is public and searchable in seconds.

What Is My NPI Number?

Your NPI is the single 10-digit number CMS assigned to you when you enrolled. To find it, use the By Provider Name search above: enter your last name and the state where you practice, then match your result by first name, city, and specialty. Your NPI, taxonomy, and practice address appear exactly as they sit in the NPPES registry.

How Do I Find My NPI Number Without Logging In?

You do not need an NPPES login to look up your NPI, the public registry search is enough. You only need an NPPES Identity & Access account to edit your record, never to view it. That means you can retrieve your NPI from any device, instantly, without a password.

Finding Another Provider's NPI

Employers, billing staff, and credentialing teams can find a provider's NPI the same way, no permission from the provider is required because the data is public. If a colleague's NPI will not appear, confirm the practice state, remove the first name, or search by a known NPI number instead.

How Our NPI Lookup Works

Our free NPI lookup tool is designed to answer one question fast: who is this provider, and is their information current? You can run an NPI search or look up a provider five different ways, and each returns the provider's NPI number, specialty, practice address, phone number, and enrollment status directly from NPPES.

Search by Name

The most common method. Enter a provider's last name, adding a first name and state dramatically improves accuracy for common surnames. A physician NPI lookup, doctor NPI lookup, or nurse practitioner NPI lookup all start here. The tool supports partial matches, so you do not need the exact legal spelling to begin.

Search by NPI Number

If you already know the 10-digit NPI, enter it for an exact match. This confirms the provider's identity instantly and shows whether the NPI is active or deactivated, essential when verifying a number that appears on a claim or referral.

Search by Organization

Enter a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or group practice name to find Type 2 organizational NPIs. This is how you run a hospital NPI lookup, pharmacy NPI lookup, or facility NPI lookup.

Search by Taxonomy (Specialty)

Every NPI carries a taxonomy code that describes the provider's specialty. You can filter results by specialty to find, for example, cardiologists, family physicians, or community pharmacies in a given area.

Search by State

Because providers are licensed state by state, a state-filtered search narrows results to one jurisdiction, an NPI lookup Texas, Florida NPI lookup, or NPI lookup California, for instance. Our dedicated state pages pre-apply this filter for you.

Search Healthcare Providers by Name

A name search is the fastest way to find a provider when you do not have their NPI number. Our tool searches the full NPPES name index and returns every matching provider with their complete public record. It works for every provider type in the registry, including:

• Physicians (MD/DO), run a doctor NPI lookup by last name and state to confirm specialty and practice location, including a primary care provider (PCP) ID lookup.
• Dentists, find a dentist's NPI, dental taxonomy, and office address.
• Nurse Practitioners & CRNAs, advanced practice nurses each hold their own individual NPI.
• Physical Therapists, a physical therapy NPI number lookup is common for rehab and outpatient billing.
• Pharmacists & Prescribers, any prescriber, physician, NP, PA, or pharmacist, holds an individual Type 1 NPI, separate from the pharmacy's Type 2 NPI.
• Hospitals & Facilities, search the organization name to find a hospital or facility's Type 2 NPI(s).
• Clinics & Group Practices, group NPI lookups return the billing entity used on claims.
• Laboratories, clinical and diagnostic labs are registered as organizational providers.

Doctor and Physician NPI Lookup by Name

A doctor NPI lookup is the most frequent name search. Enter the physician's last name and state to confirm their specialty, practice location, and NPI before an appointment, referral, or claim. Both MDs and DOs hold individual Type 1 NPIs.

Nurse and Nurse Practitioner NPI Lookup

Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and other advanced practice nurses each hold their own NPI, so a nurse NPI lookup works exactly like a physician search. This is common for referrals, supervision documentation, and billing under an NP's own number.

Tips for Common Last Names

For the best results, combine a last name with a first initial and the practice state. If a provider does not appear, try the last name alone, verify the spelling, or search by a known NPI number instead. Every result links to a full provider profile page with the complete NPPES record.

Search by NPI Number

When you already have a 10-digit NPI, a number search gives you an exact, authoritative answer in seconds. There are several practical uses:

• Exact lookup, enter the NPI to pull the provider's full record and confirm their name, specialty, and address.
• Reverse lookup, start from a number on a claim, prescription, or referral and identify exactly which provider it belongs to.
• NPI verification, confirm that an NPI is valid, active, and matches the specialty you expect before submitting a claim.
• Organization lookup, verify a Type 2 NPI for a hospital, pharmacy, or group practice.

An NPI number is always exactly ten digits, and the final digit is a checksum that lets billing systems catch typos instantly. A valid format alone does not guarantee the number is assigned, only an NPPES lookup confirms it belongs to a real, active provider.

Reverse NPI Lookup

A reverse NPI lookup starts from the number and works backward to the provider. If you see an unfamiliar NPI on a claim, prescription, or referral, enter it in the number tab to reveal exactly who it belongs to, their name, specialty, and address.

NPI Verification Before You Bill

NPI verification confirms three things at once: the number is valid, the provider is active, and the specialty matches what you expect. Running this check before submitting a claim is the simplest way to prevent a rejection caused by a wrong or deactivated NPI.

What Information Is in an NPI Record?

Every NPI lookup returns the provider's full disclosable NPPES record. Knowing what each field means helps you verify a provider quickly and confidently. A typical record includes:

Practice Address and Contact Details

The practice location, phone, and fax tell you where care is actually delivered, useful for confirming you have the right provider when several share a name. The mailing address may differ, since it is used for administrative correspondence rather than patient visits.

Provider Status and Key Dates

The enumeration date shows when the NPI was first issued, and the "last updated" date reveals how current the record is. The status field, active or deactivated, tells you at a glance whether the NPI should still appear on new claims.

The record intentionally does not include Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other sensitive personal data. Only the disclosable, business-facing information that healthcare transactions require is published, which is why the NPI registry can be fully public and free.

NPI Number Format and Check Digit

An NPI is always a 10-digit number with no letters, dashes, or spaces. The first nine digits are the identifier itself, and the tenth digit is a check digit calculated with the Luhn algorithm. This lets billing and clearinghouse software instantly catch a mistyped NPI before a claim is ever submitted.

• Length: exactly 10 digits, no more, no fewer.
• Prefix: NPIs are computed with an "80840" prefix (an industry identifier) during check-digit calculation, though only the 10 digits are displayed.
• Check digit: the final digit validates the other nine, so a single typo almost always fails the check.
• No meaning: unlike some older provider numbers, the digits carry no hidden information about specialty, state, or type. Type 1 and Type 2 NPIs are not distinguishable by the number alone.

How to Tell If an NPI Is Valid

Because a valid format does not prove a number is actually assigned, a real NPPES lookup is the only way to confirm an NPI belongs to a live, active provider. A number can pass the 10-digit check-digit test and still not be issued, so always confirm it in the registry. That is exactly what the search above does.

NPI Registry, NPPES, and Our Search Tool

People search for this data under many names, the NPI Registry, the NPPES registry, the NPI database, the national provider directory, the National Provider Index, or simply an NPI finder. They all point to the same place.

What Is the NPI Registry?

The NPI Registry is the public, searchable front end for every National Provider Identifier on file. It is what most people mean by an NPI database or NPI directory, one place to look up any US provider or organization for free.

What Is NPPES?

NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System) is the CMS system that actually issues and stores NPIs. The registry is the search view; NPPES is the database behind it. This tool queries that same NPPES data live through the official CMS API.

NPPES Login vs Public Search

You only need an NPPES login to apply for or update an NPI. Looking one up requires no account at all. Both the official CMS NPPES Registry and this tool search the same government data, the difference is the experience, we provide a faster, cleaner, more filterable NPI registry lookup over the exact same provider directory.

For any official or legal verification, we always recommend confirming against the source at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov. This tool is an independent interface built for speed and clarity, not a government service.

NPI Lookup by State

Why State Matters for an NPI Lookup

Healthcare providers must be licensed in the state where they practice, which is why state-specific NPI lookups are so popular. Adding a state filter cuts through common surnames and pinpoints the right provider fast.

Popular State NPI Lookups

Each of our state pages pre-filters the NPPES search to that jurisdiction and links directly to the relevant state medical board for license verification. Whether you need an NPI lookup Texas, a Florida NPI lookup, an NPI lookup California, or any other state, start here:

Search by Provider Type

The NPPES registry classifies every provider by type and specialty. Below are the most common provider categories people look up, each is searchable by name, organization, or specialty:

Hospital, Facility, and Organization NPI Lookup

A hospital or facility NPI lookup uses the By Organization tab: search the facility name to find its Type 2 NPI. Large health systems often hold several NPIs for different locations or service lines, so confirm the address matches the site you need.

Pharmacy NPI Lookup

Search a pharmacy's name as an organization to find its Type 2 NPI, used on e-prescriptions and pharmacy claims. Remember that individual pharmacists carry their own Type 1 NPIs, searchable separately by name.

Dentist NPI Lookup

Dentists (DDS/DMD) hold individual NPIs with dental taxonomy codes. A dentist NPI lookup by last name and state returns their specialty and office address, handy for dental billing and insurance verification.

Therapist, PT, and Behavioral Health NPI Lookup

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and social workers each have individual NPIs. A physical therapy or therapist NPI lookup is common for rehab, outpatient, and behavioral health billing.

NPI Taxonomy Lookup

Every NPI record includes one or more taxonomy codes, 10-character alphanumeric codes from the NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy set that identify a provider's classification and specialization. The primary taxonomy is the specialty a provider uses most; secondary taxonomies capture additional practice areas. Taxonomy codes drive claim routing, network directories, and specialty-filtered searches. A few common examples:

How Taxonomy Codes Work

A provider's primary taxonomy is the specialty they use most; secondary taxonomies capture additional practice areas. Together they drive claim routing, insurance network directories, and specialty-filtered searches, which is why the right taxonomy matters on every claim.

Taxonomy Code Lookup by NPI

You can perform a taxonomy code lookup by NPI to find a provider's specialty straight from their number. Enter the NPI and read the taxonomy field in the result, no separate taxonomy database needed.

Find a Provider by Specialty

Working the other direction, search by taxonomy or specialty to list every provider of a given type in a state or city, for example every family physician, cardiologist, or community pharmacy in your area.

NPI vs Other Provider Identifiers

The NPI is the universal identifier, but healthcare uses several other provider numbers for specific purposes. Confusing them is one of the most common billing and credentialing errors. Here is how the NPI relates to each:

NPI vs DEA Number

The NPI identifies who a provider is; the DEA number authorizes them to prescribe controlled substances. They are issued by different agencies and never interchangeable. NPPES does not store DEA numbers, so use a DEA lookup by NPI as the bridge between the two.

NPI vs Tax ID (EIN)

A Tax ID or EIN is a financial identifier used for tax reporting and to route payment to the billing entity. The NPI is the clinical identifier on the claim. Organizations usually have both, and they serve completely different purposes.

NPI vs PTAN (Medicare Provider Number)

When someone asks for a "Medicare provider number," they mean the PTAN, not the NPI. The NPI is universal across all payers; the PTAN is Medicare-specific and tied to the NPI through PECOS enrollment. One provider can hold multiple PTANs but only one NPI.

In short, the NPI answers "who is this provider?" while the other identifiers answer "can they prescribe?", "can they bill Medicare?", "what entity gets paid?", and "are they licensed?". Start every verification with an NPI lookup, then branch to the specific identifier you need using our DEA, PTAN, Tax ID, CAQH, and Medicaid cross-reference tools.

PECOS and Medicare Lookup

For providers who bill Medicare, the NPI connects to a second system: PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System). Enrolling in PECOS is what allows a provider to submit Medicare claims, and each enrolled provider is issued a PTAN (Provider Transaction Access Number) by their Medicare Administrative Contractor.

• PECOS, the Medicare enrollment record, linked to the provider's NPI.
• PTAN, a Medicare-specific provider number tied to the NPI and enrollment.
• Medicare enrollment, confirms a provider is approved to bill Medicare.
• Provider verification, the NPI is the key that links NPPES identity to PECOS status.

What Is PECOS?

PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System) is the CMS system that manages Medicare enrollment. A provider must be enrolled and in "approved" status in PECOS before Medicare will pay their claims, and that record is linked to their NPI.

What Is PTAN?

PTAN (Provider Transaction Access Number) is the Medicare-specific provider number issued by a Medicare Administrative Contractor at enrollment. It is tied to the NPI and used for Medicare claims and portal access, this is the "Medicare provider number" people search for.

How to Check Medicare Enrollment

If you are searching for a provider's Medicare provider number, start with an NPI lookup here to confirm identity, then use our PECOS NPI Lookup and PTAN Lookup by NPI tools for the Medicare enrollment layer and Medicare provider number verification.

Medicaid NPI Lookup

Alongside Medicare, most providers also bill state Medicaid programs, and the NPI is the identifier that ties a provider to their Medicaid enrollment. Each state runs its own Medicaid program with its own provider ID, but every one of them is keyed to the provider's federal NPI.

Medicaid Provider ID vs NPI

A Medicaid NPI lookup usually starts here: confirm the provider's identity and taxonomy in NPPES, then check enrollment in the relevant state Medicaid provider directory. Because Medicaid rules and provider IDs vary by state, the NPI is the constant that lets billers, patients, and agencies match a provider across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers. Use our Medicaid Lookup by NPI tool to bridge the federal NPI to state Medicaid enrollment.

DEA, License and Credential Verification

An NPI identifies a provider, but it does not by itself prove they are licensed or authorized to prescribe. Complete provider verification involves several separate credentials, each issued by a different authority:

• NPI, federal identity, issued by CMS. Confirms who the provider is.
• State medical license, authority to practice, issued by the state board. Verified separately.
• DEA registration, authority to prescribe controlled substances, issued by the DEA.
• Board certification, specialty qualification, issued by a certifying board.
• State licenses, a provider practicing in multiple states holds a license in each.

DEA Number Lookup by NPI

NPPES does not store DEA numbers, so you cannot pull a DEA number straight from an NPI. Our DEA Lookup by NPI tool retrieves the provider's NPPES identity, name, specialty, and state, as the starting point for DEA cross-verification, which you then confirm with the DEA directly.

State License Verification

An NPI record may list a license number, but active licensure is proven at the state board, not in NPPES. Use the NPI to identify the provider, then verify their license status with the appropriate state medical, nursing, dental, or pharmacy board.

Because NPPES does not store license status or board certifications, an NPI lookup is the first step, not the whole picture. Always confirm active licensure with the appropriate state board and DEA registration with the DEA directly.

The NPI in Medical Billing and Claims

The NPI exists mainly to make electronic healthcare billing accurate. On a standard claim, the NPI appears in more than one place, and getting it right is the difference between a paid claim and a rejection.

• Rendering provider: the individual (Type 1 NPI) who actually delivered the service.
• Billing provider: the entity (usually a Type 2 NPI) that submits the claim and receives payment.
• Referring / ordering provider: the NPI of the physician who referred the patient or ordered the test.
• Supervising provider: where required, the NPI of the supervising clinician.

Rendering vs Billing Provider

The rendering provider (Type 1 NPI) is the person who delivered the care; the billing provider (usually a Type 2 NPI) is the entity that gets paid. Payers check that both are valid and correctly paired, mixing them up is a leading cause of denials.

Avoiding Claim Denials

If any NPI on a claim is missing, mistyped, or points to a deactivated provider, the payer can reject it. That is why billers run an NPI lookup before submission, to confirm the number is valid, active, and matches the expected name and specialty. A quick NPI verification prevents costly rework and delayed reimbursement.

NPI Updates, Deactivation, and Changes

An NPI is permanent, but the record attached to it changes over a provider's career. Understanding these states helps you interpret a lookup result correctly.

• Updates: providers must update their NPPES record within 30 days of any change to name, address, taxonomy, or license. The "last updated" date shows how current a record is.
• Deactivation: an NPI can be deactivated on retirement, death, or business closure. A deactivated NPI still exists but is flagged, and should not be used on new claims.
• Reactivation: a deactivated NPI can be reactivated by the provider; the same number is restored rather than replaced.
• Name changes: a legal name change updates the existing record. The NPI never changes, which is why searching a former name can still surface the current provider.

How to Update NPI Information

Providers update their own record by logging in to NPPES at nppes.cms.hhs.gov and editing their address, taxonomy, name, or license. CMS requires updates within 30 days of a change. This lookup tool displays the official data but cannot edit a record.

Do NPI Numbers Expire?

No. An NPI never expires and is never reused. It can be deactivated (for example on retirement) and later reactivated with the same number, but the identifier itself stays with the provider permanently.

Because NPIs are never reused or reassigned, a number that once identified a provider will always trace back to them, even years after deactivation. This permanence is what makes the NPI reliable for auditing historical claims and referrals.

History and Purpose of the NPI

The NPI was created by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which directed the federal government to adopt a single standard identifier for healthcare providers. Before the NPI, each insurer and government program issued its own provider numbers, creating a tangle that slowed claims and invited errors.

When Did the NPI Become Mandatory?

CMS built the NPPES system to assign and maintain these identifiers, and the NPI became mandatory for HIPAA-covered electronic transactions on May 23, 2007 (with small health plans given until 2008). Since then, the NPI has been the backbone of provider identification across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance.

One Provider, One Number, for Life

The goal was simple and durable: one provider, one number, for life. That design is why the NPI now underpins everything from e-prescribing and electronic health records to network directories and program-integrity analytics across the entire US healthcare system.

NPI Facts and Statistics

How Many NPIs Exist?

A few numbers put the scale of the NPI system in perspective, starting with the headline figure: more than 8 million NPIs have been issued to date.

Every one of those 8 million-plus records is searchable through the tool above, live from the same database CMS publishes, which is why an NPI lookup is trusted for billing, credentialing, and provider verification nationwide.

Common Reasons to Use an NPI Lookup

An NPI lookup serves many different needs across healthcare and administration:

• Patients, verify a provider's credentials, specialty, and practice details before an appointment.
• Medical billers, confirm the correct NPI before submitting claims to prevent rejections.
• Hospitals, validate provider identities during onboarding and credentialing.
• Insurance companies, verify network providers and process claims accurately.
• Researchers, analyze provider data across specialties and regions.
• Pharmacies, confirm prescriber identities and NPIs on prescriptions.
• Government agencies, support program integrity and provider enrollment.
• Healthcare software, integrate live provider verification via the NPPES API.
• Medical recruiters, confirm candidate identities and practice histories.

Who Uses This Tool?

What NPI Data Is Public (and What Is Not)

Is NPI Information Public?

Because an NPI lookup returns real provider information, people reasonably ask what is public and why. The answer is set by federal law: the NPI is designed to be a public, business-facing identifier, not a private one.

• Public: NPI number, provider or organization name, taxonomy/specialty, practice and mailing address, phone, and enumeration status. This is the "disclosable" data under 45 CFR Part 162.
• Not public: Social Security number, IRS Tax ID (for individuals), date of birth, and any other sensitive personal data collected only for verification. NPPES never publishes these.

In other words, an NPI lookup reveals how to reach and identify a provider professionally, the same details printed on a business card or claim form, but nothing that would compromise personal privacy. This is why the registry can be openly searchable and free for everyone.

Troubleshooting: When You Cannot Find a Provider

Why Can't I Find a Provider in the NPI Registry?

If a search comes back empty, it usually is not because the provider lacks an NPI. Work through these steps and most searches resolve quickly:

• Check the spelling and try the last name alone before adding a first name.
• Add or remove the state, providers may be enrolled under a different practice state than you expect.
• Try a former name if the provider recently married or changed their legal name.
• Search the organization instead of the individual (or vice versa) for hospital and group billing.
• Use a known NPI number for an exact match if the name search is ambiguous.
• Allow a few days for brand-new enrollments to become publicly disclosable.

If a provider genuinely has no NPI, they may not be HIPAA-covered, or they may simply not have applied yet. In that case, an NPI cannot be looked up until one is issued through NPPES.

Glossary of NPI and Healthcare Terms

Explore More NPI Resources

Dive deeper with our full library of lookup tools and guides:

• Guides: Complete NPI Lookup Guide · NPI Registry (NPPES) Guide · What Is an NPI Number?
• By state: Texas · California · Florida · New York · all states
• By specialty: Doctor / Physician · Pharmacy · Nurse / NP
• Cross-reference: DEA by NPI · PECOS · PTAN · Tax ID · CAQH · Medicaid

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common NPI lookup questions, from what an NPI number is and what NPI stands for, to how to find your own NPI, verify a provider, and check Medicare enrollment. Click any question to expand it.

What is an NPI number?

An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a unique 10-digit federal identification number issued by CMS to all US healthcare providers. It is required under HIPAA for all electronic healthcare transactions including medical billing, insurance claims, and referrals. It replaced earlier provider identifier systems and is the universal standard for identifying healthcare providers in the United States.

What does NPI stand for?

NPI stands for National Provider Identifier. It is a unique 10-digit number that identifies a healthcare provider in the United States. The NPI meaning is the same for everyone: one permanent federal ID number used on claims, prescriptions, and referrals, issued by CMS under HIPAA.

What is an NPI number in healthcare?

In healthcare, an NPI number is the standard way to identify a provider or organization on every electronic transaction, medical claims, eligibility checks, referrals, and e-prescriptions. It ensures the right provider is credited and paid, and it stays the same throughout a provider's career regardless of employer or location.

How do I get an NPI number?

Apply for free at the NPPES website (nppes.cms.hhs.gov). Create an Identity & Access account, submit your name, taxonomy (specialty), and practice address, and CMS issues your NPI, usually within a few business days. There is no cost and no renewal. This tool does not issue NPIs; it helps you look up and verify NPIs that already exist.

Do nurses have NPI numbers?

Yes. Nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and other advanced practice nurses who bill or are referenced in healthcare transactions each hold their own individual Type 1 NPI. You can find any nurse's NPI using the 'By Provider Name' search with their last name and state.

Is the NPI Registry the same as NPPES?

Effectively yes. NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System) is the CMS database that stores every NPI, and the 'NPI Registry' is the public search interface for that database. When people say NPI registry, NPI database, or NPI directory, they are all referring to NPPES data, which is exactly what this tool searches live.

Is NPI lookup free?

Yes, this tool is completely free. It uses the public CMS NPPES API which has no cost and requires no API key. NPI numbers are public information under federal law, and there is no charge to search for or view provider information.

Is this NPI data accurate and up to date?

Data is pulled live from the official CMS NPPES API, which is updated daily by CMS. Providers are required to update their NPPES information within 30 days of any change. For critical verifications, always cross-check with the official NPPES registry at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

Can I look up a DEA number from an NPI?

Not directly, NPPES does not contain DEA numbers. However, our DEA Lookup by NPI tool retrieves a provider's full NPPES identity (name, specialty, state license) which is the first step in DEA cross-verification. DEA numbers must be verified separately at the DEA Diversion Control Division website.

What is NPPES?

NPPES stands for National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. It is the federal database maintained by CMS that stores all NPI records. It was established under HIPAA to create a universal provider identifier for all healthcare transactions. The NPPES public API allows free programmatic access to all provider records.

How do I find my own NPI number?

Search your own name using the 'By Provider Name' tab on the homepage. Enter your last name and the state where you practice for best results. Your NPI number, specialty, and practice address will appear in the results.

What is the difference between NPI Type 1 and Type 2?

Type 1 NPIs are for individual healthcare providers, physicians, nurses, dentists, and all other individual practitioners. Type 2 NPIs are for healthcare organizations, hospitals, group practices, clinics, pharmacies, and other entities.

Is this tool affiliated with CMS or the US Government?

No. This is an independent free tool that uses the public CMS NPPES API. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to CMS, HHS, or any government agency. For official verification, visit npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

What is CMS?

CMS stands for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the NPPES registry. CMS issues every NPI and maintains the public provider database this tool searches.

How do I verify an NPI number?

Enter the 10-digit NPI in the 'By NPI Number' tab for an exact match. The result confirms whether the number is valid, active, and which provider it belongs to. For official verification, cross-check at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

Can I search by provider name?

Yes. Use the 'By Provider Name' tab and enter a last name (adding a first name and state improves accuracy). This is the most common way to find a provider when you do not have their NPI number.

Can I search for organizations?

Yes. Use the 'By Organization' tab to search hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, and group practices by name. These are Type 2 NPIs assigned to healthcare entities.

What is a Type 2 NPI?

A Type 2 NPI is an organizational National Provider Identifier assigned to healthcare entities such as hospitals, group practices, pharmacies, and clinics. On claims it is typically the billing provider, while an individual's Type 1 NPI is the rendering provider.

How often is the NPI database updated?

The NPPES registry is updated daily by CMS with new enrollments, address changes, deactivations, and taxonomy updates. Providers are required to update their record within 30 days of any change. This tool queries the database live, so results reflect the latest data.

Can I look up taxonomy codes?

Yes. Every NPI record includes taxonomy (specialty) codes. You can view a provider's taxonomy from their record, or filter searches by specialty to find providers of a specific type.

How do I search by state?

Use our state pages, which pre-filter the NPPES search to a single state and link to that state's medical board. You can also add a state to any name search to narrow results.

Can I search hospitals?

Yes. Search the hospital's name in the 'By Organization' tab to find its Type 2 NPI. Large hospital systems may hold multiple NPIs for different locations or service lines.

Can I search pharmacies?

Yes. Search the pharmacy name as an organization to find its Type 2 NPI. Individual pharmacists have separate Type 1 NPIs, searchable by name.

Can I verify Medicare enrollment?

An NPI lookup confirms provider identity, which is the first step. Medicare enrollment is tracked in PECOS and confirmed via the provider's PTAN. Use our PECOS and PTAN lookup tools, starting from the NPI, to check Medicare enrollment status.

What is PECOS?

PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System) is the CMS system that manages Medicare enrollment. A provider must be enrolled in PECOS to bill Medicare, and their PECOS record is linked to their NPI.

What is PTAN?

PTAN (Provider Transaction Access Number) is a Medicare-specific provider number issued by a Medicare Administrative Contractor when a provider enrolls. It is tied to the provider's NPI and used for Medicare claims and portal access.

What is taxonomy?

A taxonomy code is a 10-character NUCC classification code that identifies a provider's specialty or, for organizations, facility type. Every NPI record has at least one primary taxonomy code.

Can I do a reverse NPI lookup?

Yes. If you have an NPI number from a claim, prescription, or referral, enter it in the 'By NPI Number' tab to identify exactly which provider it belongs to.

Does an NPI number ever expire or change?

No. An individual keeps the same Type 1 NPI for their entire career. It does not expire, though a record can be deactivated (for example, on retirement) and later reactivated. Name changes update the existing record rather than issuing a new number.

How can I report incorrect provider information?

NPPES data is maintained by the providers themselves. Incorrect information should be corrected by the provider through the NPPES system at nppes.cms.hhs.gov. This tool displays the official CMS data and cannot edit provider records.

Is there a limit on how many searches I can run?

No. Searches are free and unlimited. The tool queries the public CMS NPPES API directly from your browser, with no account or login required.

What is the NPI Registry?

The NPI Registry is the public search system for the NPPES database, where every National Provider Identifier is stored. It is sometimes called the NPI database, NPI directory, or NPPES registry. This tool searches the exact same registry data live through the official CMS API.

What is an NPI number used for?

An NPI number is used to identify a healthcare provider on electronic transactions: medical claims, insurance billing, referrals, e-prescriptions, and eligibility checks. It is the universal provider ID that ties a doctor, nurse, hospital, or pharmacy to the services they provide.

What is the difference between an NPI and a Medicare provider number?

The NPI is a universal federal identifier used by all payers. A Medicare provider number (PTAN) is issued by a Medicare Administrative Contractor and is specific to Medicare billing. A provider can have one NPI but multiple PTANs. Both are linked in the PECOS system.

Is the NPI the same as a Tax ID or EIN?

No. A Tax ID or EIN is used for tax reporting and identifies the billing entity financially, while the NPI identifies the provider clinically on healthcare transactions. Organizations often have both. Our Tax ID Lookup by NPI tool explains how they relate.

Can I look up a provider's DEA number?

NPPES does not store DEA numbers, so a DEA number cannot be pulled directly from an NPI lookup. Our DEA Lookup by NPI tool retrieves the provider's NPPES identity as the first step, then DEA registration must be confirmed separately with the DEA Diversion Control Division.

What is a taxonomy code?

A taxonomy code is a 10-character NUCC classification code that describes a provider's specialty (for individuals) or facility type (for organizations). Every NPI record carries at least one taxonomy code, and it drives claim routing and specialty-based searches.

How do I find a provider's NPI number by name?

Use the 'By Provider Name' tab, enter the provider's last name, and add a first name and state for accuracy. The NPI lookup by name returns the provider's 10-digit NPI, specialty, and practice address from the NPPES registry.

Are NPI numbers public information?

Yes. Under federal law (45 CFR Part 162), the disclosable portion of every NPI record is public information. This includes the provider's name, NPI, taxonomy, and practice address. Personal details like Social Security numbers are never part of the public record.

Why can't I find a provider in the NPI Registry?

Common reasons include a misspelled name, a very common surname without a state filter, a brand-new NPI not yet published, or a provider who uses a different legal name. Try the last name alone, add the practice state, or search by a known NPI number instead.

Can I download NPI data in bulk?

Yes. CMS publishes a full monthly NPPES data dissemination file for bulk download, and offers the live NPPES API for programmatic access. This tool uses that same public API for real-time single lookups rather than bulk export.

What does NPI mean in medical billing?

In medical billing, the NPI identifies both the rendering provider (who performed the service, usually a Type 1 NPI) and the billing provider (the entity submitting the claim, usually a Type 2 NPI). Correct NPIs are required for a claim to be accepted and paid.

Do NPI numbers ever get reused?

No. An NPI is never reused or reassigned to a different provider. Once issued, it belongs to that provider or organization permanently, even after deactivation. This makes the NPI a reliable long-term identifier for historical records.

How do I do an NPPES provider search?

An NPPES provider search means searching the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, the federal database behind every NPI. Use the 'By Provider Name' or 'By Organization' tab above, add a state to narrow common names, and you are querying the same live NPPES data CMS publishes.

Is there a National Provider Registry I can search for free?

Yes. The National Provider Registry, more precisely the NPI Registry backed by NPPES, is public and free to search. There is no login, no fee, and no limit on the number of lookups. Search by name, NPI number, organization, or state using the tool above.

Where can I do a National Provider Identifier lookup?

You can run a National Provider Identifier lookup right here: search by the provider's name, their 10-digit NPI number, or their organization name. Results come directly from the official CMS NPPES registry, the same source used by insurers and hospitals.

What is a primary care provider ID number?

A primary care provider (PCP) ID is simply the PCP's NPI, the same 10-digit National Provider Identifier every individual provider holds. There is no separate 'PCP ID' system, insurers and referral forms use the physician's NPI as their primary care provider ID.