NPI Type 1 vs. Type 2: Individual vs. Organization Providers
March 12, 2026
When CMS issues an NPI, it assigns one of two entity types. Understanding the difference is important whether you're researching a provider, verifying a billing claim, or simply trying to understand who's behind a given NPI number.
Type 1 NPI: Individual Providers
A Type 1 NPI is assigned to a person — a doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapist, or any other individual licensed healthcare clinician. Type 1 providers bill under their own NPI when they practice independently. They have fields for first name, last name, credential (like MD, DO, NP), and gender in the NPPES registry.
You can browse all individual providers on DoctorDataHub by specialty or state. The female provider directory and male provider directory also filter to Type 1 individuals only.
Type 2 NPI: Organization Providers
A Type 2 NPI belongs to an organization — a hospital system, medical group, outpatient clinic, pharmacy, or other entity. Organizations bill under their own NPI for services rendered under their umbrella. The NPPES record includes an organization name rather than individual name fields. You can browse healthcare organizations on DoctorDataHub's organizations page.
One Provider, Multiple NPIs?
An individual provider can have only one Type 1 NPI — it follows them for life regardless of where they practice. However, that same clinician may work within an organization that also has a Type 2 NPI. The two records are separate in NPPES and represent different billing entities, not different people.