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Definition

National Provider Identifier

A National Provider Identifier is the 10-digit number CMS issues to a health care provider through NPPES. The tenth digit is a check digit. Type 1 is an individual. Type 2 is an organization. The public registry is npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov. A page on this site is a copy of that public file.

National Provider Identifier

CMS has required the NPI on standard transactions since May 23, 2008. A provider applies once, through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, and keeps the same number if they change jobs or states.

Source: CMS NPI standard, https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/administrative-simplification/nationalprovidentstand. Page read October 14, 2026.

Questions

National Provider Identifier, answered

Is this the official NPI registry?
No. This is a copy of the public NPPES data. The official registry is at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

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