NPI Number Lookup
Search the National Provider Identifier Registry — 7.8+ Million Healthcare Providers
Recent Searches
Understanding NPI Numbers
What is a National Provider Identifier (NPI)?
The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique 10-digit identification number assigned to healthcare providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, the NPI replaced all other provider identifiers in standard healthcare transactions on May 23, 2007.
Two Types of NPI Numbers
NPI Type 1 (Individual) — Assigned to individual healthcare providers including physicians, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, therapists, pharmacists, and other licensed practitioners. Each provider receives one NPI regardless of how many locations they practice at.
NPI Type 2 (Organization) — Assigned to healthcare organizations including hospitals, clinics, group practices, nursing facilities, pharmacies, laboratories, and home health agencies. An organization may have subparts that each receive their own NPI.
Key Facts
- NPI numbers are permanent — once assigned, the NPI remains with the provider even if they change jobs, locations, or specialties
- NPI numbers contain a check digit validated using the Luhn algorithm (ISO/IEC 7812) with the prefix 80840
- The NPI database is maintained by the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES)
- All HIPAA-covered healthcare providers must obtain an NPI
- NPI numbers are publicly available and searchable at no cost
How to Use This NPI Lookup Tool
Search by Individual Provider
- Select the "Individual Provider" tab
- Enter the provider's last name (required) or first and last name
- Optionally narrow results by state, city, ZIP code, or specialty
- Click "Search NPI Registry"
- Click any result card to view full provider details
Search by Organization
- Select the "Organization" tab
- Enter the organization name (at least 2 characters)
- Optionally filter by state, city, or specialty
- Click "Search NPI Registry"
Search by NPI Number
- Select the "NPI Number" tab
- Enter the exact 10-digit NPI number
- Click "Search NPI Registry"
Tips for Better Results
- Use the * wildcard for partial name matches (e.g., "Sm*" matches Smith, Smyth, Smithson)
- Start broad and narrow down — search by state first, then add city or specialty
- Names in the NPI database are stored in ALL CAPS — our tool auto-formats them for readability
- Click "Export CSV" to download search results for your records
Understanding NPI Data Fields
Provider Information
- NPI Number — The unique 10-digit identifier
- Enumeration Type — NPI-1 (Individual) or NPI-2 (Organization)
- Status — Active (A) or Deactivated (D). Deactivated NPIs cannot be used for billing
- Enumeration Date — When the NPI was first assigned
- Last Updated — Most recent modification to the provider's record
Taxonomy Codes
Taxonomy codes classify healthcare providers by specialty and type. The code is a 10-character alphanumeric code defined by the Health Care Provider Taxonomy Code Set maintained by the National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC). Each provider can have multiple taxonomy codes, with one marked as primary.
Examples: 207R00000X = Internal Medicine, 208D00000X = General Practice, 261QM0801X = Critical Access Hospital
Addresses
- Practice Location — Where the provider sees patients or delivers services
- Mailing Address — Where correspondence is sent (may differ from practice location)
Other Fields
- Identifiers — Other provider IDs such as state license numbers or Medicare/Medicaid IDs
- Other Names — Alternative names the provider may use
- Endpoints — Electronic service information for health data exchange
How NPI Numbers Are Used in Healthcare Billing
NPI numbers are required on virtually all healthcare transactions under HIPAA, including:
Claims Submission
- CMS-1500 Form (professional claims) — NPI appears in Box 17b (referring provider), Box 24J (rendering provider), and Box 33a (billing provider)
- UB-04 Form (institutional claims) — NPI in FL 56 (billing provider) and FL 76-79 (attending/operating/other providers)
- 837P/837I Electronic Claims — NPI required for billing, rendering, referring, and facility providers
Other Uses
- Eligibility Verification — Verifying a provider is enrolled with a payer
- Referral Authorization — Identifying referring and referred-to providers
- Credentialing — Validating provider identity during enrollment
- Prescription Processing — Identifying prescribing providers at pharmacies
- Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA/835) — Matching payments to providers
Common Billing Scenarios
When a patient visits a doctor's office:
- The rendering provider NPI (the doctor who treated the patient) goes in Box 24J
- The billing provider NPI (the practice or group) goes in Box 33a
- If the patient was referred, the referring provider NPI goes in Box 17b
- If services were at a facility, the facility NPI goes in Box 32a
Frequently Asked Questions
An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a unique 10-digit number assigned to healthcare providers in the United States. It was established by HIPAA and is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Every healthcare provider who transmits health information electronically is required to have an NPI. The number is permanent and stays with the provider throughout their career, regardless of job or location changes.
Use the search tool above. Select "Individual Provider," enter the doctor's last name and state, then click Search. You can also search by first and last name, city, ZIP code, or specialty to narrow results. If you already have the NPI number, select the "NPI Number" tab and enter the 10-digit number directly for instant lookup.
NPI Type 1 is assigned to individual healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists, and pharmacists. NPI Type 2 is assigned to healthcare organizations such as hospitals, clinics, group practices, nursing facilities, and laboratories. A single physician may have their own NPI-1 while also being associated with a group practice that has an NPI-2.
Yes. An NPI can be deactivated if the provider retires, passes away, or if the organization closes. However, deactivated NPI numbers are never reassigned to another provider. Once deactivated, the NPI cannot be used for billing or any HIPAA-covered transactions. A deactivated NPI can sometimes be reactivated if the provider returns to practice.
This tool queries the official NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System) database maintained by CMS in real-time. The data you see comes directly from the same source as the official NPI Registry at CMS.gov. Our tool provides a more user-friendly interface with features like card-based results, one-click NPI copying, CSV export, and detailed provider views.
The NPPES database is updated in real-time. When a provider registers for a new NPI or updates their information, those changes are reflected in the API immediately. CMS also publishes a full NPI data dissemination file that is updated monthly, but our tool uses the real-time API for the most current data available.
A taxonomy code is a 10-character alphanumeric code that classifies a healthcare provider's specialty, type, and area of specialization. It is maintained by the National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC). For example, 207R00000X represents Internal Medicine, and 1041C0700X represents a Clinical Psychologist. Providers can have multiple taxonomy codes but must designate one as primary.
If you are a healthcare provider who transmits any health information in electronic form in connection with a HIPAA-covered transaction, you are required to obtain an NPI. This includes physicians, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, pharmacists, therapists, and other licensed healthcare professionals, as well as healthcare organizations. You can apply for an NPI at no cost through the NPPES website.
Data Source: This tool queries the NPPES NPI Registry API (Version 2.1) maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Data is provided in real-time directly from the official CMS database. No personal data is collected or stored by this tool — all searches are performed client-side in your browser.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided for informational purposes only. While the data comes directly from the official CMS NPPES database, it should not be used as the sole source for credentialing, privileging, or employment decisions. Always verify provider information through primary sources and applicable state licensing boards.