Private practice · Sep 18, 2025 · 12 min read
A therapist's guide to getting credentialed with insurance
What credentialing actually involves, how long each stage takes, and the preparation that keeps applications from stalling for months.
Credentialing is mostly a documentation exercise with a long queue at the end. The practices that move fastest prepare every document before they start.
Keep a current CV with no unexplained gaps, malpractice coverage, licensure, an NPI, and a maintained CAQH profile.
Track every application with a submission date and a follow-up cadence. Silence is the default; persistence is the tool.
Stage by stage
Application intake takes days if your packet is complete. Primary source verification, where the payer confirms your license, education, and work history, takes the longest, often 45 to 90 days. Committee review and effective dates follow. Know where your file sits and ask for the specific blocker when a stage stalls.
