NPI Lookup from the NPI Registry

NPI categories

There are two broad categories for NPI numbers, both of which are covered under

the NPI meaning. These are:

1. Type 1 – individual providers

2. Type 2 – organizational providers

Type 1 – Individual healthcare providers

An individual healthcare provider is someone who provides healthcare services as a

single entity, including sole providers. For example, this could include a physician

who works alone rather than working in a practice with other physicians.

As an individual healthcare provider, you would be assigned a single NPI number.

This is unaffected by whether you have other employees or work in different

locations. If you’re a sole proprietor, you only get one NPI number.

Type 2 – Organizational providers

An organizational provider can be a single person or a company with hundreds of

employees. The difference between type 1 and type for individuals is whether they

are a sole proprietor or an incorporated individual. The latter requires type 2.

The main difference with type 2 NPI numbers is that organizations can have several

NPI numbers, rather than just one. For an incorporated practitioner, this might mean

having one for themselves and another for their corporation. Visit our website for

more information npi-lookup.org.