How to look up an NPI
The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique 10-digit number for covered healthcare providers, required in HIPAA standard transactions. CMS publishes every active NPI record free in the NPPES NPI Registry.
Last reviewed against the CMS and HRSA pages linked on this page on .
The short answer
Search by NPI number, provider name, or organisation name at the NPPES NPI Registry (opens in a new tab). It is free, updated daily, and shows the public parts of each record, including name, specialty (taxonomy), and practice address. For bulk use, CMS offers a full monthly download file and an API rather than repeated searches.
Ways to get NPI data from CMS
| Method | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NPI Registry search | A query-only database, updated daily; no charge | Looking up one provider or organisation |
| NPI Registry API | Programmatic access to the same registry | Applications that check individual NPIs |
| Full replacement monthly NPI file | The FOIA-disclosable NPPES data in one download, now including deactivated NPIs; no charge | Bulk analysis. CMS says bulk queries must use this file |
| Weekly incremental file | Changes for one week, in the same format as the monthly file | Keeping a copy current between monthly files |
| Deactivation file | Deactivated NPIs and deactivation dates | Checking whether an NPI is still active |
From CMS’s NPPES data dissemination page and the NPI Registry. Since June 2024, CMS limits the number of registry queries per hour.
What an NPI does and does not tell you
- The NPI is “intelligence-free”: CMS says the number itself carries no information such as state or specialty.
- There are two kinds of NPI: individual providers (Type 1) and organisations such as group practices and clinics (Type 2).
- An NPI is not a licence check. The registry states that issuing an NPI does not ensure or validate that a provider is licensed or credentialed. Verify licences with the state licensing board.
If your own record is wrong
Providers update their own NPI data through NPPES. For help, CMS lists the NPI Enumerator at 800-465-3203.
Common questions
- Is the NPI Registry free?
- Yes. CMS says there is no charge to view the registry or to download the NPI files.
- Does an NPI mean a provider is licensed?
- No. The registry itself says that issuing an NPI does not ensure or validate that a provider is licensed or credentialed.
- How often is the NPI data updated?
- The registry search is updated daily; the downloadable file is a monthly full replacement with weekly incremental files in between.
Sources
- National Provider Identifier Standard (NPI) (opens in a new tab) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- NPPES NPI Registry (opens in a new tab) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- NPPES Data Dissemination (opens in a new tab) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- NPI Files (downloadable) (opens in a new tab) — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
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Last reviewed against the CMS and HRSA pages linked on this page on .
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