Credentialing — also called medical, provider or physician credentialing — is a very detailed process that reviews doctors’ qualifications and career history including their education, training, residency, and licenses, as well as any specialty certificates. Credentialing must be completed upon the hire or enrollment of a new doctor.

Credentialing is important because it not only protects patients and the clinic by lowering the risk of medical errors that may be caused by incompetent providers, but it also enhances the reputation and credibility of the clinic in the eyes of providers and the wider health care community. Credentialing is also why insurance companies pay the provider for their services. Without proper credentialing, there would be no payments.