The Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) is a database that insurance and credentialing companies often use to verify information associated with your license. Since all insurance companies need the same documents (e.g., your license, malpractice insurance, NPI number, etc.), you can upload them to CAQH so that you don't have to provide them to each payor each time a document expires.

First, you must register for a CAQH account, which only takes a few minutes. You can self-register with this link. Make sure to fill out all the required information marked with an asterisk (✱) and that the name you use on your CAQH account matches the name on your license.

After you register, you'll receive a verification email with a link to set up a username and password. Once you create your login, you can start preparing your CAQH submission.

With your account activated, you're ready to submit CAQH details. This process can take up to two hours. However, using this guide's tips and proactively preparing the proper documentation should reduce that to about an hour. You'll need basic personal information and details about your education, training, and specialties, including:

If you gather these documents, you should have most of what you need and be ready for the next step - filling out the CAQH account.