> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mso.getlemma.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Provider taxonomy codes

> What taxonomy is, how it's chosen at NPI registration, common codes by specialty, and the enrollment-mismatch failure mode.

A **taxonomy code** is a 10-character alphanumeric code identifying a healthcare provider's type, classification, and area of specialization. It is selected at NPI registration, appears on claims, and must match what you enrolled with, or you get denials that look mysterious because nothing clinical is wrong.

Maintained by the **National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC)** and updated twice annually.<sup>1</sup>

## The structure

Ten characters, hierarchical:

| Position | Meaning                |
| -------- | ---------------------- |
| 1–2      | Provider grouping      |
| 3–6      | Classification         |
| 7–9      | Area of specialization |
| 10       | Always `X`             |

Example: `207N00000X`, `20` allopathic and osteopathic physicians, `7N` dermatology, no subspecialization.

## The failure mode

**The taxonomy on your claim must match the taxonomy you enrolled with.**

A mismatch produces denials, commonly **CARC 8** (procedure inconsistent with the provider type) or **CARC 170**, that look clinical but are purely administrative. Practices chase the coding when the problem is a data field set years earlier at NPI registration.

Two distinct taxonomies exist and both must be right:

* **Group taxonomy** on the PC's **Type 2** NPI, appearing in the 837's `PRV` segment for the billing provider
* **Individual taxonomy** on each clinician's **Type 1** NPI

Verify both against what each payer has on file at go-live, and again whenever you add a specialty or a location.

## Common codes by specialty

Illustrative working set. Confirm the current code for your specialty against the NUCC code set.

### Physicians (`20` grouping)

| Code         | Specialty                            |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| `207Q00000X` | Family Medicine                      |
| `207R00000X` | Internal Medicine                    |
| `207N00000X` | Dermatology                          |
| `207W00000X` | Ophthalmology                        |
| `207X00000X` | Orthopaedic Surgery                  |
| `207RG0100X` | Gastroenterology                     |
| `207RC0000X` | Cardiovascular Disease               |
| `2084P0800X` | Psychiatry & Neurology, Psychiatry   |
| `207V00000X` | Obstetrics & Gynecology              |
| `208000000X` | Pediatrics                           |
| `207L00000X` | Anesthesiology                       |
| `207P00000X` | Emergency Medicine                   |
| `2085R0202X` | Radiology, Diagnostic                |
| `207ZP0102X` | Pathology, Anatomic and Clinical     |
| `207RE0101X` | Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism |
| `207RI0011X` | Interventional Cardiology            |

### Groups

| Code         | Type                           |
| ------------ | ------------------------------ |
| `193200000X` | **Multi-Specialty Group**      |
| `193400000X` | Single Specialty Group         |
| `261Q00000X` | Clinic/Center, Ambulatory Care |
| `261QP2300X` | Clinic/Center, Primary Care    |
| `261QM0801X` | Clinic/Center, Mental Health   |
| `261QR0400X` | Clinic/Center, Rehabilitation  |

<Tip>
  For a **PC's Type 2 NPI**, use the specialty taxonomy if the practice is single-specialty, or `193200000X` if genuinely multi-specialty. Do not use a clinic/center code unless you are licensed as one, some of those codes imply a facility license the practice doesn't hold.
</Tip>

### Advanced practice and allied

| Code         | Type                                          |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------- |
| `363L00000X` | Nurse Practitioner                            |
| `363LF0000X` | Nurse Practitioner, Family                    |
| `363LP0808X` | Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health |
| `363A00000X` | Physician Assistant                           |
| `225100000X` | Physical Therapist                            |
| `225X00000X` | Occupational Therapist                        |
| `235Z00000X` | Speech-Language Pathologist                   |
| `111N00000X` | Chiropractor                                  |
| `152W00000X` | Optometrist                                   |
| `213E00000X` | Podiatrist                                    |

### Behavioral health

| Code         | Type                        |
| ------------ | --------------------------- |
| `103T00000X` | Psychologist                |
| `1041C0700X` | Social Worker, Clinical     |
| `101YM0800X` | Counselor, Mental Health    |
| `106H00000X` | Marriage & Family Therapist |
| `103TC0700X` | Psychologist, Clinical      |

<Note>
  🧠 A behavioral health group with several license types will have several individual taxonomies under one group taxonomy. Confirm each payer accepts the group taxonomy you chose for the mix of clinicians you employ. See [Behavioral health](/concepts/industries/behavioral-health).
</Note>

### Dental

| Code         | Type                                              |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `1223G0001X` | Dentist, General Practice                         |
| `1223P0221X` | Dentist, Pediatric Dentistry                      |
| `1223X0400X` | Dentist, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics |
| `1223S0112X` | Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery           |
| `1223E0200X` | Dentist, Endodontics                              |
| `1223P0300X` | Dentist, Periodontics                             |
| `122300000X` | Dentist (general)                                 |

## Choosing at NPI registration

<Steps>
  <Step title="Individual (Type 1)">
    The clinician's specialty. Where they are board-certified in a subspecialty, use the subspecialty code if payers in your market recognize it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Group (Type 2)">
    The practice's specialty, or the multi-specialty code if genuinely multi-specialty. Match it to what you will enroll and contract with.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Multiple taxonomies">
    NPPES permits more than one per NPI, with one designated **primary**. The primary is what most payers use. Adding secondary taxonomies is occasionally useful and occasionally creates confusion — do it deliberately.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Record both, everywhere">
    In your enrollment grid, alongside the NPI and Tax ID. This is the record you check when a CARC 8 arrives.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## When to change one

Update the taxonomy in NPPES when:

* A clinician completes fellowship and changes specialty
* The practice's specialty mix changes materially
* A payer tells you the enrolled taxonomy doesn't match your services

**Changing a taxonomy in NPPES does not update your payer enrollments.** After changing it, notify each payer and confirm they updated their record. Otherwise NPPES and the payer disagree, and claims deny.

## Sources

1. National Uniform Claim Committee, [Health Care Provider Taxonomy Code Set](https://www.nucc.org/index.php/code-sets-mainmenu-41/provider-taxonomy-mainmenu-40). Updated twice annually. Verify current codes before registration.


## Related topics

- [Get NPIs (Type 1 and Type 2)](/guides/enrollment/get-an-npi.md)
- [Enroll and contract with commercial payers](/guides/enrollment/enroll-with-commercial-payers.md)
- [Submit clean claims](/guides/billing/submit-clean-claims.md)
- [The 837: how claims are told to payers](/concepts/payments/understanding-837s.md)
- [837 file anatomy](/reference/edi/837-anatomy.md)
- [CARC codes (Claim Adjustment Reason Codes)](/reference/edi/carc-codes.md)