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Fonteum · Learn · Updated 2026-06-21

How to Get an NPI Number

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  3. /How to Get an NPI

Getting an NPI is free and done through the CMS NPPES system: create an account, complete the application with your details and a taxonomy code, and submit. It does not expire. Your record then joins the roughly 8.9M public NPI records anyone can look up.

Source: CMS NPPES · Public DomainUpdated 2026-06-21

What you need first

Before you start the application, gather a few things so you can finish in one sitting:

  • Your Social Security Number (for a Type 1 individual NPI) or Employer Identification Number (for a Type 2 organizational NPI).
  • Your practice or business name and mailing address.
  • Your provider taxonomy code — the NUCC classification for your provider type and specialty.
  • An email address to create your NPPES account.

The steps to apply

  1. 1. Create an NPPES account. Register for an identity account that gives you access to the NPPES application portal run by CMS.
  2. 2. Choose Type 1 or Type 2. Apply as an individual (Type 1) or an organization (Type 2). If you are both a clinician and an incorporated business, you may need one of each.
  3. 3. Complete the application. Enter your identity details, practice address, contact information, and your taxonomy code.
  4. 4. Submit and receive your NPI. Most online applications are processed within a few business days, and the NPI is issued directly to you.

This is general reference information about a public CMS process, not legal or compliance advice. Always follow the current instructions in NPPES itself.

Type 1 vs. Type 2

Type 1 — individual

For a single human provider — a physician, nurse, therapist, or other clinician. Tied to the person and follows them across jobs.

Type 2 — organization

For a group practice, hospital, agency, or supplier. Tied to the business entity and its EIN, not to any one person.

After you get your NPI

The NPI is your identity, not your billing authorization. To bill Medicare you enroll separately in PECOS; to join a commercial network you credential with each payer. Your NPI and its public fields are added to the NPPES registry the moment it is issued, which is how patients, payers, and data platforms can look you up. Keep your NPPES record current — an out-of-date address or taxonomy is a common reason claims and lookups go wrong.

The NPI system by the numbers

8.9M
Records in the NPPES registry
CMS NPPES · Public Domain
6.8M+
Currently-active providers
CMS NPPES · Public Domain
2.98M
Medicare enrollments in PECOS (the next step)
CMS PECOS · Public Domain

Look up an existing NPI

Already have a number, or checking someone else’s? Search the NPPES registry by name or number and see the public fields.

NPI lookup →

Frequently asked questions

How do I get an NPI number?
You apply through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), the CMS system that issues NPIs. Create an account, complete the application with your identity and practice details and a taxonomy code, and submit. Most online applications are processed quickly, and the NPI is issued to you directly.
Is getting an NPI free?
Yes. There is no charge to apply for or hold an NPI. CMS issues it through NPPES at no cost, and it does not expire — a provider keeps the same NPI for their entire career. Any site that charges a fee to "get" an NPI is reselling a free government service.
Do I need an NPI before I can bill Medicare?
Yes. The NPI comes first; it is the identity layer. To actually bill Medicare you then enroll separately in PECOS, which records 2.98M Medicare enrollments. The NPI identifies you; PECOS enrollment authorizes Medicare billing.
What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 NPI?
A Type 1 NPI is for an individual provider — a person. A Type 2 NPI is for an organization, such as a group practice, hospital, or agency. A provider who owns an incorporated practice may need both: a Type 1 for themselves and a Type 2 for the business.
How long does it take to get an NPI?
An online NPPES application with complete information is often processed within a few business days; paper applications take longer. Once issued, the NPI and its basic public fields appear in the NPPES registry, where anyone can look them up.
Where does my NPI information go after I get one?
Your NPI and its public fields — name, practice address, taxonomy, and credentials — are added to the NPPES registry, which holds roughly 8.9M records. That registry is public, which is why patients, payers, and platforms like Fonteum can look any NPI up.

Related

  • What is an NPI number? — the identifier, Type 1 vs Type 2, and the 10-digit structure.
  • NPI vs. provider ID, PTAN, and Tax ID — how the NPI relates to the other numbers you will be asked for.
  • What is a provider taxonomy code? — the classification you choose during the application.
  • What is PECOS? Medicare enrollment — the separate step to bill Medicare after you have an NPI.
  • NPPES provider data — the registry your record joins, with API and bulk download.
  • NPI lookup tool — search the NPPES registry by name or number.
Reviewed by Jennifer Montecillo, MD, medical reviewer. Non-practicing medical reviewer. Review covered terminology accuracy, the description of the public CMS NPPES application process, and the scope of the NPI and PECOS data. Does not constitute legal, clinical, or compliance advice.
FonteumResearch Bureau. “How to Get an NPI Number: A Step-by-Step Guide.” 2026-06-21. Source: CMS NPPES (U.S. Government Works). Available at https://fonteum.com/learn/how-to-get-an-npi.

On this page

  • What you need first
  • The steps
  • Type 1 vs. Type 2
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Reviewed by Jennifer Montecillo, MD, medical reviewer. Non-practicing medical reviewer.

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Reviewed by Jennifer Montecillo, MD, medical reviewer. Non-practicing medical reviewer.

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