Identity Verification Help

The NPDB requires multi-factor authentication, or MFA, to sign in to NPDB user accounts. After enabling MFA for your user account, you will be asked to complete identity verification to meet required federal cybersecurity standards. Identity verification is an approach for verifying and authenticating the identity of individuals accessing the NPDB. While it is optional now, starting July 25, 2024, a subset of NPDB users will be required to identity verify before they can access their accounts. Each week, identity verification will be rolled out to more users until all have been notified. You will be notified by email 1 week before you are required to complete identity verification.

How to Verify Your Identity

If you use a PIV card or CAC for MFA, you have already completed identity verification.

If you have already verified your identity, you can prove your identity by signing in to the NPDB using you ID.me account and consenting to share your information. If you haven't verified your identity, you will be prompted to verify after you sign in.

ID.me offers several options for identity verification. The fastest option is "Self-Service," which can be completed in only a few minutes. To complete self-service, you need three items:

1. A mobile phone that belongs to you and has a camera, or a computer with a webcam
2. A government-issued photo ID (U.S. driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or U.S. passport card)
3. Your Social Security number

To complete identity verification using Self-Service, follow ID.me's instructions to take photos of the front and back of your identity document. Next, follow the displayed directions to take a short video of yourself. ID.me validates your document and compares the photos to your video. Next, you will enter your Social Security number. ID.me displays a success message when your identity is verified.

After you verify your identity, you must agree to share the information with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the federal agency that operates the NPDB program.

Note: The NPDB does not share or store a user's date of birth or Social Security number.

For step-by-step instructions on how to sign in with ID.me, create a new account, and verify your identity, visit Using the National Practitioner Data Bank for work Exit Image.

Q&As

1. What is ID.me?
   ID.me is certified using federal standards to provide secure login and identity verification. ID.me provides a method for users to verify their identity and protect security with information systems, such as the NPDB. The ID.me secure digital identity network has over 100 million members with over 60,000 individuals joining daily, as well as partnerships with 30+ states, multiple federal agencies, and over 500 name brand retailers.
   
   
2. How do I change the name on my user account?
   For account security, the NPDB compares the name you used for identity verification with your NPDB user account name. If the names are different, your NPDB user account name is changed to match the identity verification name. If your identity verification name is incorrect, you must correct it on your ID.me account or through your PIV card or CAC provider.
   
   
3. Why is the NPDB requiring Identity Verification?
   

   The federal government is committed to protecting your information and information held in the NPDB. We take this responsibility seriously. We must comply with the federal government's security requirements issued by NIST, the National Institute of Technology and Standards.

   As part of the federal government authority to operate processes performed by the Health Resources and Services Administration, an e-Authentication Risk Assessment was conducted. Based on the results of that risk assessment, the NPDB must comply with the identity assurance level 2 requirements in NIST 800-63-3. In addition, NPDB must also meet all identity requirements in NIST 800-53rev5. By implementing a remote identification solution that does not rely on knowledge-based information, the NPDB has strengthened its remote identity authentication and verification services, thereby reducing the risk of identity fraud for its customers.

   Identity verification uses photos and videos to confirm you are who you say you are, which keeps your information secure. In short, identity verification helps protect you and your account from someone trying to impersonate you.

   
   
4. Why do I have to complete identity verification? I already completed a notary document.
   Completing the notary document is only one part of the identity verification process. To meet the current federal cybersecurity requirements, we must know the identity of the person accessing the NPDB system. The identity verification process meets these requirements.
   
   
5. Why does ID.me need my Social Security number?
   ID.me uses your Social Security number to verify your unique identity Exit Image. All information you provide to ID.me is secure and encrypted. The NPDB does not share or store a user's date of birth or Social Security number.
   
   
6. How does identity verification ensure it is you each time you sign in?
   Your NPDB user account was linked with your ID.me account when you enabled multi-factor authentication. When you sign in, the NPDB confirms the identity verification status and name used for your ID.me account. That name is then compared with your NPDB user account name. If the names are different, your NPDB user account name is automatically changed to match your identity verified name.