CAQH ProView Profile Setup Guide for Therapists

What Is CAQH ProView?

CAQH ProView is a free, online provider data management system operated by the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH). It serves as a centralized repository where healthcare providers enter and maintain their professional credentials, practice information, and supporting documents. Over 1.4 million providers use CAQH ProView, and the majority of commercial health plans in the United States access it during the credentialing process.

For mental health providers, CAQH ProView eliminates the need to submit the same credentialing information — education, licensure, malpractice coverage, work history — separately to every insurance company. You enter your information once, keep it updated, and payers pull from your profile when processing your credentialing applications.

A complete, accurate, and current CAQH ProView profile is one of the most important factors in avoiding credentialing delays. Incomplete profiles are the single most common reason credentialing applications stall.

Verify with your payer: While most commercial payers use CAQH ProView, not all do. Medicare uses PECOS for enrollment, and some regional payers have proprietary applications. Confirm with each payer whether they require a CAQH profile.

When You Need It

Set up your CAQH ProView profile as soon as you have:

• Your NPI number — Required for CAQH registration
• Your state license — You need an active, unrestricted license
• Your malpractice insurance policy — A current certificate of insurance

Ideally, complete your CAQH profile before submitting any credentialing applications. Most payers will not begin processing your application until your CAQH profile is complete and attested.

Required Documents

Before you begin the registration process, gather these documents in digital format (PDF preferred):

Licenses and Certifications

• Current state professional license (front and back if applicable)
• DEA certificate (if you have prescriptive authority)
• State controlled substance certificate (if applicable)
• Board certifications (if applicable)
• CPR/BLS certification (some payers require this)

Education and Training

• Graduate degree diploma or transcript
• Internship/practicum completion documentation
• Post-doctoral training certificate (for psychologists)
• Residency completion certificate (for psychiatrists and nurse practitioners)

Insurance

• Current professional liability (malpractice) insurance certificate
• The certificate must show policy dates, coverage amounts, and your name as the insured

Practice Information

• W-9 form for your practice
• Practice tax ID (EIN) or SSN if sole proprietor
• Office address(es) where you provide services
• Billing address
• Office phone number and fax number

Professional History

• Five-year work history (employer names, addresses, dates, and position titles)
• Hospital affiliations (if any)
• Professional references (typically 3, with contact information)

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Access the Registration Page

Navigate to proview.caqh.org and click "Register" or "Self-Register." If a payer has already initiated your registration, you may have received a CAQH Provider ID by email — use that to log in instead of self-registering.

Step 2: Create Your Account

Enter your personal information to create your CAQH account:

• Full legal name (must match your license exactly)
• NPI number
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number
• Email address and phone number
• Create a username and password

After registration, you will receive a CAQH Provider ID. Save this number — you will need it when applying to insurance panels.

Step 3: Complete the Personal Information Section

This section includes:

• Legal name, maiden name, and any other names used professionally
• Home address (kept confidential — not shared with payers)
• Contact information
• Gender, date of birth, place of birth
• Languages spoken

Step 4: Complete the Professional Information Section

Enter your education and training details:

• Professional school — Name of institution, degree type, dates attended, graduation date
• Internship — Facility name, dates, supervisor information
• Post-graduate training — Residency, fellowship, or post-doctoral program details
• Board certification — If applicable, include certifying board and dates

Step 5: Enter License Information

For each state license you hold:

• License type (e.g., Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Psychologist)
• License number
• State of licensure
• Original issue date
• Expiration date
• Status (active, inactive)

Upload a copy of each license. Ensure the uploaded document is legible and shows all relevant information.

Step 6: Enter Malpractice Insurance Information

• Insurance carrier name
• Policy number
• Coverage dates (effective date and expiration date)
• Coverage amounts (per occurrence and aggregate)
• Your name as listed on the policy

Upload your current certificate of insurance. This is one of the most commonly missing documents and a frequent cause of delays.

Step 7: Complete Work History

Enter your employment history for at least the past five years. For each position:

• Employer or practice name
• Address
• Start and end dates
• Position title
• Reason for leaving (if applicable)

Gaps in work history longer than six months must be explained. Common acceptable explanations include parental leave, additional training, relocation, or personal leave.

Step 8: Enter Practice Location Information

For each location where you provide services:

• Practice name
• Physical address (must be a street address, not a P.O. Box)
• Phone number and fax number
• Office hours and days
• Whether the location is accessible to people with disabilities
• Whether you accept new patients at this location
• Languages spoken at this location
• Telehealth capability

Step 9: Answer Disclosure Questions

CAQH includes a series of disclosure questions about:

• Malpractice claims or settlements
• Disciplinary actions by licensing boards
• Hospital privilege restrictions or revocations
• Criminal history
• Substance use treatment history
• Physical or mental health conditions affecting your ability to practice

Answer these questions honestly. A "yes" answer does not automatically disqualify you from credentialing, but dishonesty will. If you answer "yes" to any question, you will be asked to provide a written explanation and any supporting documentation.

Step 10: Upload Supporting Documents

Upload all required documents:

• Professional license(s)
• Malpractice insurance certificate
• DEA certificate (if applicable)
• Board certification (if applicable)
• Completed W-9

Ensure all documents are current and legible. Expired documents will cause your profile to be flagged as incomplete.

Step 11: Authorize Payers

In the "Authorization" section, select which health plans can access your profile. You must authorize each payer individually. If you are unsure which payers to authorize, select all payers available in your state — there is no disadvantage to granting broad access.

Step 12: Attest Your Profile

After completing all sections and uploading all documents, click "Attest." Attestation confirms that all information in your profile is current and accurate as of the date you attest. Your attestation date is visible to payers and must be current for them to process your credentialing.

Quarterly Attestation

CAQH requires you to re-attest your profile every 120 days. During attestation:

1. Log in to your CAQH ProView account
2. Review all sections for accuracy
3. Update any information that has changed (new address, license renewal, malpractice policy renewal)
4. Upload updated documents if any have expired and been renewed
5. Click "Attest" to confirm everything is current

Set a recurring calendar reminder every 90 days so you attest before the 120-day deadline. If your attestation lapses, payers may be unable to process your credentialing or re-credentialing.

Common CAQH Errors to Avoid

Mismatched Names

Your name in CAQH must match your name on your professional license exactly. If your license says "Elizabeth Smith, LCSW" and your CAQH profile says "Beth Smith," payers will flag a discrepancy during primary source verification. Use your full legal name as it appears on your license.

Expired Documents

Uploading expired malpractice certificates, expired licenses, or outdated W-9 forms is a common cause of incomplete profiles. Before attesting, verify that every uploaded document is current. When you renew your license or malpractice policy, upload the new document to CAQH immediately.

Incomplete Work History

Leaving gaps in your five-year work history will prompt payer inquiries that delay credentialing. Account for all time periods, including periods of unemployment, parental leave, additional education, or relocation. Brief written explanations for gaps are sufficient.

Failing to Authorize Payers

Even with a complete profile, payers cannot access your information unless you have authorized them. Review your authorization list periodically, especially when applying to new insurance companies. If a payer tells you they cannot access your CAQH profile, check your authorization settings first.

Not Attesting After Making Updates

Every time you update information in your CAQH profile, you must re-attest for the changes to be visible to payers. Simply saving changes is not sufficient — the attestation step is what signals to payers that your profile is current.

Tips for a Smooth CAQH Experience

• Complete your profile in one sitting if possible — The system can time out, and partial saves do not always hold
• Use a computer, not a phone — The CAQH interface works best on a desktop browser
• Keep a credentialing folder — Maintain a digital folder with current copies of all documents you need for CAQH
• Screenshot your attestation confirmation — Keep proof of your attestation date in case of disputes
• Check your profile from the payer's perspective — After attesting, contact a payer's provider relations team to confirm they can see your complete profile