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Short answer: you apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). CMS lists three ways to do it: online in NPPES, on the paper form CMS-10114 mailed to the NPI Enumerator, or through an Electronic File Interchange (EFI) organization that submits for you. CMS says the web-based application gives “the most efficient application processing and the fastest receipt of NPIs.” This guide covers the choice that most often goes wrong, individual (Type 1) versus organization (Type 2), then the three routes, common causes of returned applications and what CMS does and does not say about timing.
This is general information about a federal administrative enrolment step. It is not legal, billing or medical advice. Sources were checked on 2026-10-31; they are listed at the end.
What you need before you apply
The NPI is a 10-digit number with no embedded meaning; CMS calls it a “10-position, intelligence-free numeric identifier.” Under 45 CFR 162.410, a covered health care provider must obtain an NPI “by application if necessary” from the National Provider System. The decision to make first is which entity type you are.
| Entity type | Who it is for (per form CMS-10114) | Points the form makes |
|---|---|---|
| Type 1, individual | Individuals such as physicians, nurses and pharmacists | A sole proprietorship is Type 1 and may obtain only one NPI. You report your SSN (or ITIN), not an EIN. |
| Type 2, organization | Organizations including hospitals, group practices, pharmacies and durable medical equipment suppliers | A solely owned corporation is Type 2. A subpart needs the parent’s Legal Business Name and TIN. |
Medical-supply businesses should note that CMS-10114 names durable medical equipment suppliers as Type 2 organizations. An NPI identifies you; it is not a Medicare billing number. See PTAN number: how it differs from an NPI, and taxonomy codes for DME and medical suppliers for the code you are asked to pick on the application.
Steps: how to apply for an NPI number
CMS states that providers “can apply for NPIs in one of three ways.” Pick one.
How do I apply for an NPI number online?
Apply in NPPES using the “Apply Now” link on the CMS “How to Apply” page. CMS recommends this route as the most efficient and fastest.
- Decide whether you are Type 1 or Type 2 (table above).
- Go to the “Apply Now” link on the CMS NPI “How to Apply” page, which takes you to NPPES.
- Complete every section of the application accurately; individuals report an SSN or ITIN, not an EIN (per CMS-10114).
- Submit the application.
How do I apply for a NPI number on paper?
- Download form CMS-10114 (NPI Application/Update Form) from the CMS website. Tick the reason “initial application.”
- Complete every page. The form warns that incomplete pages 3, 4 and 5 “may cause your application to be returned and delay processing.”
- Sign the certification. The form states that falsifying information can bring fines or imprisonment.
- Mail it to the NPI Enumerator, whose staff enter the data into NPPES. For questions about where to submit documents, the form directs you to the NPI Enumerator at 1-800-465-3203.
Can someone else apply for me?
Yes, through an EFI organization (EFIO), which can submit application data on your behalf in bulk, but only if the EFIO asks your permission. You do not have to do this; CMS describes it as an option.
How long does it take to get an NPI number?
CMS does not state a fixed processing time on its “How to Apply” page, and that page does not state a fee either. What CMS does say is that the web-based application gives the fastest receipt of NPIs, and that a paper application is mailed and then keyed in by the NPI Enumerator, so it takes the extra step of mail and data entry. Incomplete forms can be returned and delayed. If you need your NPI by a certain date, apply online and check every field first.
What can go wrong
- Wrong entity type. A sole proprietor who applies as Type 2, or a solely owned corporation that applies as Type 1, has chosen the wrong category under the definitions in CMS-10114. A sole proprietorship can hold only one NPI.
- Incomplete paper form. Blank sections on pages 3, 4 and 5 can lead to the application being returned.
- SSN or ITIN in the wrong place. The form accepts it only in block 18 or 19.
- Subpart missing parent details. A subpart must supply the parent’s Legal Business Name and TIN.
- Date of birth changes. The form asks for a photocopy of a driver’s license or birth certificate.
- Not updating later. A covered provider must communicate changes to required data elements within 30 days (45 CFR 162.410(a)(4)); form CMS-10114 is also used for changes, deactivation and reactivation.
When to get professional help
For help with the form itself, contact the NPI Enumerator using the details above. For which entity type applies to a complicated ownership structure, or for Medicare enrolment and billing questions that follow the NPI, speak to a qualified billing or compliance professional. Equipment suppliers may also need DMEPOS accreditation; the supply-chain context is in medical supply wholesaler. NPIs are used in transactions covered by HIPAA.
FAQ
How to apply for npi number?
Apply online in NPPES, mail form CMS-10114 to the NPI Enumerator, or give permission to an EFI organization that submits for you. CMS recommends the online route.
How to apply for an NPI number, or a NPI number?
The process is the same. First choose Type 1 (individual) or Type 2 (organization), then use one of the three routes above.
How to get a NPI number?
You get it by applying; there is no separate request step. A covered provider must obtain an NPI by application if necessary (45 CFR 162.410(a)(1)).
How long does it take to get NPI number?
CMS gives no fixed timeframe on its “How to Apply” page. Online is CMS’s fastest route; paper adds mailing and data entry; incomplete forms can be returned and delayed.
Sources
- CMS, “How to Apply” (NPI): https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/administrative-simplification/nationalprovidentstand/apply, checked 2026-10-31.
- CMS, National Provider Identifier Standard: https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/administrative-simplification/nationalprovidentstand, checked 2026-10-31.
- 45 CFR 162.410, Compliance dates and requirements for covered health care providers: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/45/162.410, checked 2026-10-31.
- CMS-10114, NPI Application/Update Form (OMB 0938-0931): https://www.cms.gov/medicare/cms-forms/cms-forms/downloads/cms10114.pdf, checked 2026-10-31.
