The National Provider Identifier (NPI) for OT, PT, and SLP
The NPI is a unique 10-digit number for covered health care providers, adopted as a HIPAA standard. CMS says providers can apply online through NPPES, by mail with the paper form CMS-10114, or through an Electronic File Interchange organization. CMS sorts providers into Entity Type 1 (individuals, including sole proprietors) and Entity Type 2 (organizations, such as group practices). An individual may obtain only one NPI. CMS’s examples of individual providers name physical therapists. They do not name occupational therapists or speech-language pathologists. APTA encourages PTs and PTAs to have an NPI. None of the CMS pages read for this site says whether there is a fee, so this page does not say either.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
CMS’s NPI pages, the CMS-10114 form (Rev. 07/2026), and 45 CFR 162.406 and 162.410 on eCFR were read on November 10, 2026. The NPPES site is a JavaScript application, and a plain read returned no text, so nothing is quoted from it.
What the NPI is
CMS’s National Provider Identifier Standard (NPI) page states: “The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Administrative Simplification Standard. The NPI is a unique identification number for covered health care providers.” It continues: “Covered health care providers and all health plans and health care clearinghouses must use the NPIs in the administrative and financial transactions adopted under HIPAA.” And: “This means that the numbers do not carry other information about healthcare providers, such as the state in which they live or their medical specialty.”
The regulation, 45 CFR 162.406, states: “The NPI is a 10-position numeric identifier, with a check digit in the 10th position, and no intelligence about the health care provider in the number.” Under 45 CFR 162.410, a covered health care provider must obtain an NPI and must “Communicate to the NPS any changes in its required data elements in the NPS within 30 days of the change.” Who counts as a covered provider is explained on HIPAA for OT, PT, and SLP.
How to apply
CMS’s How to Apply page states: “Health care providers can apply for NPIs in one of three ways:” It continues: “For the most efficient application processing and the fastest receipt of NPIs, use the web-based application process.” The other two ways are agreeing to let an Electronic File Interchange organization submit your data, and mailing the paper NPI Application/Update Form (CMS-10114). CMS gives no processing time on that page, and none is given here.
Type 1 and Type 2
The CMS-10114 instructions describe Entity Type 1 as “Individuals who render health care or furnish health care to patients; e.g., physicians, dentists, nurses, chiropractors, pharmacists, physical therapists.” They state: “A sole proprietorship is an Entity Type 1 (Individual).” Entity Type 2 is “Organizations that render health care or furnish health care supplies to patients; e.g., hospitals, home health agencies, ambulance companies, group practices, health maintenance organizations, durable medical equipment suppliers, pharmacies.” The form also states: “Incorporated individuals may obtain NPIs for themselves (Entity Type 1 Individual) if they are health care providers and may obtain NPIs for their corporations (Entity Type 2 Organization).”
On how many: “NOTE: An individual may obtain only one NPI, regardless of the number of taxonomies (specialties), licenses, or business practice locations he/she may possess.” The form asks for a provider taxonomy code and points to the NUCC taxonomy site for the list. This page lists no codes.
Physical therapists and PTAs: APTA
APTA’s National Provider Identifier page, checked November 10, 2026, states: “All health care providers who are HIPAA-covered entities, whether individuals or organizations, must obtain an NPI.” It states: “According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, all health care providers are eligible to apply for an NPI, even if your services may be billed by the facility and not individually.” And: “It's not mandatory for health care providers who are not ‘covered entities’ under HIPAA to apply for an NPI, but we encourage all PTs and PTAs to have one.” On Medicare: “You must have an NPI in order to enroll in Medicare.”
Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists
The CMS pages and form read for this site do not name occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, or speech-language pathology assistants. An ASHA NPI address tried that day returned ASHA’s page-not-found message, and AOTA pages were not read, so no association wording is quoted for OT or SLP. Ask the NPPES help desk or your employer how the rules apply to you.
What this page does not do
It gives no fees, processing times, or taxonomy codes, and it does not tell you whether you are a covered entity. It is not legal, billing, or compliance advice. Confirm current rules with the agency that publishes them, your employer, and your state board.