NPI guides
Clear, plain-English explanations of public NPI records — what they show, what they cannot verify, and how to use them safely. Every guide links back to the lookup and to the official source limitations.
NPI basics
Start here to understand what an NPI is and how the records are structured.
What is an NPI number?
The 10-digit identifier CMS issues to providers, and what it is for.
Read guide →What an NPI record shows
Every field a public record contains — and what it does not verify.
Read guide →Type 1 vs. Type 2 NPI
Individual vs. organization records, and why one person can be linked to both.
Read guide →How to read taxonomy codes
What NUCC taxonomy means, primary vs. additional, and its limits.
Read guide →Looking up a provider
Practical steps for finding the right record and confirming you have the right entity.
For patients
How to use an NPI lookup carefully — and what to verify elsewhere before an appointment.
NPI lookup for patients
Helpful, careful uses — and why an NPI is not a quality rating.
Read guide →Verify a provider before an appointment
A source-based checklist: identity, license, certification, insurance, location.
Read guide →NPI vs. medical license
Why an NPI never confirms a license, and where to verify one.
Read guide →For billing & credentialing teams
Where NPI data fits in operational workflows — and where it does not.
Ready to look one up?
Search public NPI records by number, name, organization, location, or specialty.
Open the NPI lookup