How to Create a Login for the CAQH Provider Portal
The CAQH ProView portal is the central platform used by healthcare providers to submit and maintain credentialing information shared with health plans and other organizations. Creating a login is the first step before any credentialing data can be entered, updated, or shared — and while the process follows a defined path, a few variables shape how it plays out for different users.
What Is the CAQH Portal and Who Needs an Account?
CAQH ProView (formerly known as the Universal Provider Datasource) is a provider-credentialing database used across the U.S. healthcare industry. Health plans, hospitals, and other entities use it to verify provider information rather than requiring separate applications to each organization.
Anyone who needs an account falls into one of two categories:
- Individual providers — physicians, nurses, therapists, and other licensed practitioners who self-attest their credentials
- Authorized staff or delegates — office managers, credentialing specialists, or billing staff who manage a provider's profile on their behalf
The account type you set up determines what access you have and what information you can view or edit.
Step-by-Step: Creating Your Initial CAQH Login
1. Obtain Your CAQH Provider ID
Before you can create a login, you need a CAQH Provider ID. This is not something you generate yourself — it is assigned when a participating health plan or organization submits your information to CAQH, or when you self-register.
To self-register:
- Go to proview.caqh.org
- Select the option to register as a new provider
- Enter your NPI (National Provider Identifier), name, and contact details
- CAQH will generate a Provider ID and send it to the email address on file
If a health plan already submitted your information, you may have received an email from CAQH with your Provider ID included.
2. Navigate to the Registration Page
Once you have your Provider ID:
- Visit proview.caqh.org
- Click "Register" or "Create an Account"
- Enter your Provider ID along with your name and date of birth to verify identity
⚠️ The registration link in any CAQH email is time-sensitive. If it has expired, you'll need to return to the portal and initiate a new registration flow.
3. Set Up Your Username and Password
During registration, you'll create:
- A username (typically your email address or a chosen identifier)
- A password that meets CAQH's complexity requirements — generally a minimum length with a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters
CAQH periodically updates its password policy, so requirements may vary. The system will flag non-compliant passwords in real time during setup.
4. Set Up Security Questions and Two-Factor Authentication
CAQH requires identity verification steps beyond a password. During account setup, you'll be prompted to:
- Select and answer security questions
- Optionally configure two-factor authentication (2FA) via email or phone
These steps are not optional for account recovery — if you lose access and haven't set them up, regaining entry to your account becomes significantly more difficult.
Creating a Delegate Login 🔐
If a provider wants to authorize a staff member to manage their profile, that staff member needs a delegate account — not an independent provider account.
The process works like this:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Provider logs in | Access the main account dashboard |
| Navigate to Delegate section | Found under account/profile settings |
| Add delegate | Enter the delegate's name and email address |
| Delegate receives invitation | Email contains a link to create their own login |
| Delegate sets credentials | Creates a username and password tied to the provider's account |
A single delegate can be authorized to manage multiple provider profiles, which is common in large practices or credentialing departments. Each provider must individually grant access — there is no bulk-authorization tool at the delegate level.
Common Issues When Setting Up a CAQH Login
"I never received my Provider ID email" Check spam and junk folders first. If the email isn't there, contact CAQH support directly — the ID may have been sent to a different address, or the health plan may not have completed the submission.
"The registration link is expired" Return to the portal homepage and start a fresh registration. Do not try to reuse the old link.
"I already have an account but forgot my username" Use the "Forgot Username" option on the login page. CAQH will send recovery information to the email on file.
"My delegate can't see the full profile" Delegates only see what the provider has explicitly authorized. The provider needs to adjust delegate permissions within the account settings.
What Affects How Straightforward This Process Is
The registration experience varies considerably depending on:
- Whether a health plan pre-populated your record — if they did, setup is faster since basic information is already in the system
- Your NPI status — providers without an active NPI number face additional steps before CAQH can verify identity
- Whether you're a solo provider or part of a group — group setups often involve multiple delegates and layered permissions
- How current your email address is — CAQH communications rely entirely on email, so an outdated address creates bottlenecks at every stage
For some users, especially those in solo practice setting up credentials for the first time, the process from receiving a Provider ID to a fully active login takes less than 30 minutes. For others — particularly those managing multiple provider profiles or navigating a pre-populated but incorrect record — it may involve several rounds of back-and-forth with CAQH support.
Your starting point — whether you're a first-time applicant, a returning user, or a delegate managing someone else's profile — determines which parts of this process will feel straightforward and which will require extra attention.