NPPES API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Health / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)

Overview

The NPPES NPI Registry API lets you look up US healthcare providers by their National Provider Identifier (NPI) number or by name and specialty. It is completely free with no authentication required and returns detailed provider information including address, taxonomy, and contact details. This is useful for building healthcare directories or verifying provider credentials.

💡

Beginner Tip

Search by a provider's last name and state using the number and enumeration_type parameters to narrow results — the API can return up to 200 records per request.

Available Data

country name and code
population
capital city
region and subregion
flag image URL
vehicle make and model

Example Response

JSON Response
{
  "name": "Japan",
  "capital": "Tokyo",
  "population": 125800000,
  "region": "Asia",
  "languages": [
    "Japanese"
  ],
  "flag": "https://flagcdn.com/jp.svg",
  "currencies": [
    {
      "code": "JPY",
      "name": "Japanese yen"
    }
  ]
}

Field Reference

result_count Total number of providers matching the search criteria.
results Array of matching provider records.
number The 10-digit National Provider Identifier (NPI) for the provider.
enumeration_type Provider type: NPI-1 for individuals, NPI-2 for organizations.
taxonomies List of provider specialty taxonomies with codes and descriptions.
addresses Mailing and practice location addresses for the provider.

Implementation Example

const url = "https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/registry/help-api";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Empty results array The NPI number does not exist or search parameters are too restrictive
Double-check the 10-digit NPI number or loosen search filters like removing the state parameter.
Too many results warning Search by name alone matches thousands of providers
Add additional filters such as state, city, or taxonomy_description to narrow the result set.
400 Bad Request Missing required version parameter in the request
Always include version=2.1 as a query parameter in your request URL.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 371ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Health
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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