# How to get an NPI number

An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is a 10-digit number issued by CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) through NPPES. Every US health care provider who bills insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, the VA, or works through a platform (Headway, Alma, Rula, Zeel, Talkspace, SonderMind and others) needs one. It is free, it is yours for life, and you only ever get one.

Individuals get a Type 1 NPI. Businesses (a clinic, group practice or LLC that bills under its own name) get a Type 2 NPI; a solo provider usually needs only Type 1.

## First: check whether you already have one
Many "I need an NPI" requests already have one. Search the registry for free at https://simplenpi.com/#lookup (or with the lookup_npi tool). If your name is there, that is your NPI; do not apply again.

## Short answer
The easiest free way is to let SimpleNPI file it: one short form at https://simplenpi.com/start, no CMS account to create, and the NPI usually arrives by email and text, with all the documentation, within 10 minutes. The free alternative is applying yourself at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov.

## Option 1: SimpleNPI files it for you (free, the easiest path)
1. Fill out one short form at https://simplenpi.com/start (name, license, contact, address, identity, e-signed authorization). About 3 minutes, no CMS account to create.
2. A person checks the license and address, then SimpleNPI files the application with CMS under your signed authorization (CMS allows a provider to authorize someone to submit the application on their behalf).
3. Your NPI arrives by email and text, with all the documentation, usually within 10 minutes. Applications filed after midnight Eastern issue around 6 am Eastern.
4. SimpleNPI then sends all the documentation and the steps to claim your own CMS login so you can manage the number without anyone else.

## Option 2: apply yourself at NPPES (free)
1. Go to https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov and create an Identity & Access (I&A) account (email, security questions, multi-factor code).
2. Sign in to NPPES, choose "Apply for an NPI for myself", Individual (Type 1).
3. Enter name, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, birth state or country, mailing address, practice location and phone.
4. Pick your taxonomy code (the profession code, table below) and enter your state license number.
5. Add a contact person, certify, and submit.
6. CMS usually issues the number within a few business days. Applications that pass the Social Security match often issue within minutes; name or SSN mismatches are held for a manual check and can take up to about 20 days.

## What you need (either path)
- Legal name exactly as on the license, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, birth state or country
- Email and mobile phone
- Mailing address and practice address (home is fine if you do not have a practice address yet)
- Profession / license type, state license number and state

## Taxonomy codes SimpleNPI files
| Profession | Taxonomy code | NPPES description |
|---|---|---|
| Massage Therapist (LMT) | 225700000X | Massage Therapist |
| Mental Health Counselor (LPC / LMHC / LCPC) | 101YM0800X | Counselor, Mental Health |
| Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) | 106H00000X | Marriage & Family Therapist |
| Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | 1041C0700X | Social Worker, Clinical |
| Psychologist | 103T00000X | Psychologist |
| Nurse Practitioner | 363L00000X | Nurse Practitioner |
| Registered Nurse | 163W00000X | Registered Nurse |
| Chiropractor | 111N00000X | Chiropractor |
| Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) | 171100000X | Acupuncturist |
| Physical Therapist | 225100000X | Physical Therapist |
| Occupational Therapist | 225X00000X | Occupational Therapist |
| Dietitian / Nutritionist | 133V00000X | Dietitian, Registered |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | 235Z00000X | Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Physician Assistant | 363A00000X | Physician Assistant |
| Dentist | 122300000X | Dentist |
| Physician (MD / DO) | 208D00000X | General Practice |

## Disclosure
SimpleNPI is a private filing service, not a government agency. The NPI is issued free of charge by CMS at nppes.cms.hhs.gov.

More: https://simplenpi.com/llms.txt | MCP server for AI assistants: https://simplenpi.com/mcp | Contact: info@simplenpi.com