How to Register and Get Your CAQH Number: A Provider’s Guide

Want to bill insurance companies or get credentialed with payers? You’ll need a CAQH number first. It’s your key to unlocking provider enrollment, faster approvals, and on-time payment.

Tip: More than 1.6 million healthcare providers in the U.S. already use CAQH ProView to share their professional details securely with payers. It’s free, widely accepted, and often the first step in joining a payer network.

On average, completing your CAQH profile can reduce credentialing delays. Some providers get approved in just 3 to 5 business days once their profile is verified. This guide will walk you through each step, making the process simple and stress-free.

What is CAQH?

CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare) is a non-profit organization that helps healthcare providers share their professional and credentialing details with insurance companies through one central platform, CAQH ProView.

Instead of filling out the same forms over and over for different payers, providers can enter their information once in CAQH, and insurance companies can access it whenever needed. This makes the credentialing and re-credentialing process faster, easier, and more organized.

Tip: In simple terms, CAQH is your go-to tool for managing your provider data and getting in-network with insurance plans without drowning in paperwork.

What Is a CAQH Number Used For?

A CAQH number is a unique identifier assigned to healthcare providers after they create a profile on CAQH ProView. It acts as a digital ID that enables insurance payers to access a provider’s credentialing information in one secure, centralized location.

What Is CAQH Attestation 

Every 120 days, CAQH requires a simple self-attestation to confirm your profile remains accurate. For busy practices, this handful of minutes prevents:

• Recredentialing roadblocks: Unattested profiles get hidden from payers.
• Payment holds: Claims can stall if your CAQH record lapses.
• Network drops: Insurers may remove you from panels without current data.

Staying on top of attestation isn’t just compliance, it’s your guarantee of uninterrupted revenue flow.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Obtain Your CAQH Provider ID

Securing your CAQH Provider ID is a foundational step in joining insurance networks. Whether you’re a newly licensed provider or transitioning into a new practice, this number enables insurance companies to access your credentials through a single, secure platform. Follow this streamlined guide to get started.

Determine If CAQH Enrollment Is Necessary

Check With Your Target Payers First

Before registering, reach out to the insurance carriers you’re planning to credential with. Not all require CAQH, but most major payers, especially commercial plans, do. Confirming this up front can save you unnecessary work.

Register with CAQH ProView

Visit the Official Portal
Go to proview.caqh.org and select “Register” to begin the enrollment process.

If you’ve been invited by a payer, you’ll receive a CAQH ID in the invitation—use that to link your profile.

Set Up Your Account

Provide Initial Information
You’ll be asked for basic but essential provider details, including:

• Full legal name
• Email address
• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• State licensure information
• Practice address(es)
• Date of birth and SSN (for verification only)

Fill Out Your Provider Profile

Complete the CAQH Application
Once registered, you’ll enter professional and background information, such as:

• Education and training history
• Employment record
• Medical or clinical certifications
• State license details
• Hospital affiliations and admitting privileges (if any)

Take your time, accuracy is critical to avoid processing delays.

Upload Supporting Credentials

What Documents Do I Need for CAQH?

Document Submission Checklist
To complete your CAQH ProView profile and ensure a smooth credentialing process, you’ll need the following documents and information:

Required Documents & Information:

• IRS Form W-9 – For tax identification and payer enrollment.
• Valid State Medical License(s) – Include all active licenses across states.
• DEA Certificate – Required if you prescribe controlled substances.
• Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) Certificate – If applicable in your state.
• Board Certifications – Include all specialty certifications.
• Malpractice Insurance Certificate – Provide details of active coverage.
• Malpractice Claims History – May be requested depending on payer.
• Recent CV or Resume – Include education, training, and work history.
• Identification Numbers:
  • NPI (National Provider Identifier)
  • Medicare and Medicaid IDs
  • UPIN (if still applicable)
• Three Professional References – Include full names, titles, and contact information.

Make sure all documents are clear and current.

Grant Payer Access

Authorize Insurance Companies
You must manually approve access for each insurance carrier to review your CAQH profile. Without this step, your credentials won’t be visible, even if your profile is complete.

Verify & Attest Your Profile

Final Confirmation Step
Before submission, review all entries carefully. Once verified, you’ll “attest” to the truthfulness of your data. CAQH requires attestation every 120 days; they’ll send you reminders, but staying on schedule avoids deactivation.

Receive Your CAQH Number

Check Your Email for Confirmation
After your profile is submitted and approved, CAQH will send your unique CAQH Provider ID by email. You can now share this number with payers to begin the credentialing process.

Pro Tip: Keep your login credentials, CAQH number, and attestation dates saved securely. Staying proactive about updates ensures uninterrupted insurance enrollment and faster payer responses.

Uses of a CAQH Number in Healthcare

Your CAQH number is used throughout several administrative processes, including:

• Initial Credentialing

Payers use your CAQH profile to verify your qualifications, licenses, and work history before approving you for network participation.

• Recredentialing

Every 2–3 years, insurers review your profile to renew your contract. With an active CAQH number, they can easily access your updated information.

• Provider Directory Updates

Health plans use CAQH to pull accurate details for provider directories, helping patients find you.

• Enrollment in New Plans

If you want to join a new payer network, your CAQH number speeds up the process no need to fill out redundant forms.

• Delegated Credentialing

Large healthcare groups and billing partners often use your CAQH number to pull your information and submit on your behalf.

How Long Until Your CAQH Profile Is Active?

Step	Typical Duration
CAQH Profile Verification	1–3 business days
Payer Access & Review	2–4 weeks
Full Credentialing (Including Outreach)	6–10 weeks

Common Challenges During CAQH Registration

Registering with CAQH is a crucial step in the healthcare credentialing process. However, many providers encounter preventable issues that can delay approval or cause complications with insurance networks.

Incomplete Profile Information

Providers often skip essential fields, leading to delays in verification and payer access.

Missing Documents

Documents like licenses or insurance are often forgotten, stalling the process.

No Payer Authorization

Failure to authorize payers means they can’t access your profile, even if it’s complete.

Skipped Attestation

Forgetting to attest every 120 days deactivates your profile automatically.

Mismatched Information

Inconsistencies between your profile and uploaded documents can cause red flags.

Ignoring Notifications

Missed emails or alerts from CAQH or payers can delay approvals.

Registration Type Confusion

Confusion between individual vs. group registration causes mismatches.

Wrong NPI or License

Errors in critical numbers prevent correct profile matching with payers.

No Profile Updates

Neglecting regular updates leads to deactivation and missed credentialing opportunities.

Incorrect Practice Locations

Inaccurate addresses confuse payers and lead to processing delays.

Benefits of CAQH Credentialing

CAQH credentialing improves the administrative process for healthcare providers, making it easier to work with multiple payers. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Centralized Profile
  Submit your information once and share it with multiple insurance companies from one platform.
• Faster Credentialing Process
  Reduces the time it takes to get credentialed with payers by eliminating redundant paperwork.
• Improved Accuracy
  Regular attestation and updates help maintain accurate and up-to-date provider information.
• Compliance Support
  Helps meet payer and industry requirements for credentialing and data transparency.
• Secure Information Management
  CAQH ensures your sensitive provider data is protected and accessible only to authorized entities.
• Greater Visibility
  Makes it easier for new payers and provider networks to find and verify your credentials.

CAQH Delegated Credentialing vs. Standard Process

Delegated credentialing CAQH allows large organizations like hospitals or medical groups to credential providers collectively instead of individually. The organization manages profiles and submits credentials in bulk, speeding up the process.

In contrast, the standard CAQH process requires each provider to maintain their own profile and authorize payers separately.

Feature	Standard CAQH Process	Delegated Credentialing CAQH
Maintained by	Individual provider	The organization’s credentialing team
Used for	Solo or small practice providers	Large groups or hospitals
CAQH profile	Managed individually	Often maintained in bulk or centrally
Time efficiency	Slower, especially with multiple payers	Faster, due to batch processing
Payer contracts	Providers apply to each separately	One agreement covers all internal providers

How to Update or Deactivate Your CAQH Profile

If you move, take a break from practice, or join a group that manages credentialing, it’s important to update or deactivate your CAQH profile. You can log in to your CAQH ProView account to make changes like updating contact info or practice locations. To deactivate, contact CAQH support directly. Keeping your profile current prevents credentialing delays and ensures accurate payer access.

Final Thought

Getting and keeping your CAQH number up to date is essential for faster credentialing and smooth insurance payments. Whether you’re an individual provider or part of a large group, a complete CAQH profile reduces paperwork and delays. Stay current with your attestations to keep your practice connected and running efficiently.

Let CloudRCM help you register, manage, and stay compliant with CAQH. Call us today at (224) 231-6880 for a free consultation!

FAQs:

What if I forget my CAQH login?

Use the “Forgot Password” feature on the CAQH login page to reset your credentials via email.

What documents are mandatory for specialists?

Specialists typically need state licenses, board certifications, malpractice insurance, DEA registration (if applicable), CV, and professional references.

Can mid-level providers like PAs or NPs register?

Yes, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners can register for a CAQH profile to streamline their credentialing.

How often do I need to update my CAQH profile?

You must attest and update your profile every 120 days to keep it active.

Can group practices register under one CAQH profile?

No, individual providers need separate profiles, but groups can manage multiple profiles.

Is there a fee to register with CAQH?

No, CAQH registration and profile management are free for providers.