How to Find Pediatricians by Zip Code
Data sourced from live CMS NPI Registry API v2.1 queries, run June 13, 2026. All provider counts are real API responses, not estimates. Raw query results are available for download. See methodology below.
taxonomy_description=Pediatrics (NUCC 208000000X). Three traps proven June 13, 2026: (1) Pediatrician returns zero — practitioner nouns are not CMS taxonomy strings. (2) Pediatric Medicine returns zero. (3) The correct Pediatrics query returns a majority of Nurse Practitioners before physicians — in Memphis, 107 of 200 records were NP Pediatrics providers; in Vermont (101 total, complete count), 47 of 101 were NP Pediatrics. MD pediatricians are a minority of the raw result set. Additionally, every Pediatric subspecialty (Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neonatal-Perinatal, Critical Care, Developmental-Behavioral) is a completely separate taxonomy — none appear in a bare Pediatrics query. This guide covers the full entity-type breakdown, subspecialty table, and how to isolate MD prescribers.
Pediatrics query. In our June 2026 Memphis query (200 records): 107 of 200 were Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics. In Vermont (101 complete records): 47 of 101 were NP Pediatrics. Credentials breakdown (Memphis): 35 MD, 26 M.D., 17 NP, 10 RN/NP, 8 APN, 8 APRN. For a pharma or device rep whose product requires a physician prescriber (MD/DO), filter on credentials after export to remove NP Pediatrics providers.
Pediatrics in the NPI registry: real counts from 9 markets
We queried the CMS NPI API v2.1 on June 13, 2026 with taxonomy_description=Pediatrics.
Most major metros capped; Vermont and Wyoming returned complete counts.
| Market | Query scope | NPI records returned | At 200-record cap? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Los Angeles, CA | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Chicago, IL | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Houston, TX | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Phoenix, AZ | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Nashville, TN | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Memphis, TN | City filter | 200+ | Yes (more exist) |
| Wyoming (statewide) | State filter | 39 | No (complete) |
| Vermont (statewide) | State filter | 101 | No (complete) |
Source: CMS NPI Registry API v2.1, taxonomy_description=Pediatrics, limit=200. Queried June 13, 2026. Includes NPI-1 and NPI-2 records, and Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics providers. Confirmed: Pediatrician → 0 results; Pediatric Medicine → 0 results. Raw dumps: Memphis, Vermont.
Pediatric subspecialties: all separate taxonomies
A bare Pediatrics query excludes all subspecialties. Each requires its own independent query:
| Subspecialty | taxonomy_description value | NUCC code | National June 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General pediatrician (MD/DO) | Pediatrics |
208000000X | 200+ most metros (NPs included in count) |
| Pediatric cardiologist | Pediatric Cardiology |
2080P0207X | 200+ nationally — separate query required |
| Pediatric gastroenterologist | Pediatric Gastroenterology |
2080P0210X | 200+ nationally — separate query required |
| Neonatologist | Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine |
2080N0001X | 200+ nationally — separate query required |
| Pediatric critical care | Pediatric Critical Care Medicine |
2080P0006X | 200+ nationally — separate query required |
| Developmental-behavioral pediatrics | Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics |
2080H0002X | 200+ nationally — separate query required |
| NP Pediatrics (non-physician) | Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics (matched by bare query) |
363LP0200X | Included in Pediatrics query results |
| "Pediatrician" (practitioner noun) | Invalid — returns 0 | None | 0 — not a CMS taxonomy string |
| "Pediatric Medicine" | Invalid — returns 0 | None | 0 — not a CMS taxonomy string |
How to search for pediatricians by zip code (5 steps)
Choose your search method
- NPI registry directly at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov — free, no account, city or state filter only. No radius, no credential filtering.
- getdork Physician Search — same CMS API with zip-radius filtering, correct taxonomy pre-mapped, CSV export with entity type and credential columns. Search pediatricians by ZIP →
Use the exact taxonomy string: Pediatrics
taxonomy_description=Pediatrics. "Pediatrician" returns zero; "Pediatric Medicine"
returns zero. The numeric NUCC code 208000000X is silently ignored by the API.
Filter out Nurse Practitioners for an MD-only call list
Your raw Pediatrics result set will be dominated by NP Pediatrics providers in large metros. To isolate MD/DO prescribers, filter on the credential field after export: keep rows where credential contains "MD," "M.D.," "DO," or "D.O." This removes NP Pediatrics, NP Family, and APRN records from your call list.
Query subspecialties separately if needed
Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and others are not included in a bare Pediatrics query. Each requires a separate query with its own taxonomy string. getdork lets you run multiple subspecialty queries in one session.
Export to CSV (Pro) and segment by credential
Pro users export the complete result set. Filter on NPI-1 entity type and then filter on the credential column (MD, M.D., DO, D.O.) to produce a clean MD/DO pediatrician list.
Direct API queries
# Pediatrics in Memphis, TN — returned 200 (capped; includes NP Pediatrics, June 2026) https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/? version=2.1 &taxonomy_description=Pediatrics &city=Memphis &state=TN &limit=200 # WRONG — Pediatrician returns 0 (practitioner noun, not a taxonomy string) https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/? version=2.1 &taxonomy_description=Pediatrician &limit=200 # Vermont statewide — 101 records (complete count, June 2026) https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/? version=2.1 &taxonomy_description=Pediatrics &state=VT &limit=200 # Neonatologists — separate taxonomy, must be queried independently https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/api/? version=2.1 &taxonomy_description=Neonatal-Perinatal+Medicine &limit=200
Radius guidance for pediatrics territories
| Market type | Recommended starting radius | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Dense urban (NYC, Chicago, LA, Houston) | 5–10 miles | All cap at 200 (NPs inflating the count). A narrow radius returns a manageable slice; filter out NPs for a physician-only list. |
| Mid-metro (Memphis, Nashville) | 15 miles | Both cities cap at 200. A 15-mile radius covers the urban core and major suburban pediatric practices. |
| Rural (Wyoming 39 statewide, Vermont 101) | Statewide or 50+ miles | Wyoming returned only 39 statewide pediatrics records — a complete, small call list. Vermont returned 101. In these states, a statewide query is the territory; radius filtering within the state is unnecessary. |
getdork sends
taxonomy_description=Pediatrics and surfaces the entity type and
credential columns in the exported CSV — so you can filter to MD/DO prescribers in seconds.
Free to preview; Pro for the full list and CSV export.
Search pediatricians by ZIP — free →
Frequently asked questions
Why do "Pediatrician" and "Pediatric Medicine" return zero results?
CMS taxonomy strings are specialty discipline names, not practitioner nouns or modifier phrases. "Pediatrician" is the practitioner noun — zero results, confirmed June 13, 2026. "Pediatric Medicine" is not a NUCC taxonomy string either — also zero. The correct string is "Pediatrics" (208000000X).
Why does the Pediatrics query return so many Nurse Practitioners?
"Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics" (363LP0200X) is a registered NPI taxonomy and matches the bare Pediatrics query. In Memphis (200 records, June 2026): 107 of 200 were NP Pediatrics. In Vermont (101 total): 47 of 101 were NP Pediatrics. For a rep whose product requires an MD or DO prescriber, filter on credentials (MD, M.D., DO, D.O.) after export.
Are Pediatric subspecialties included in a bare Pediatrics NPI query?
No. Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Pediatric Critical Care, and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics all require independent queries. Each has its own NUCC code and taxonomy string. All returned 200+ nationally in June 2026, confirming they are large, active populations. A bare Pediatrics query will not surface any of them.
How does the Memphis pediatrics dataset break down by entity type and credential?
Memphis (June 2026): 192 NPI-1, 8 NPI-2. Primary taxonomy: 107 NP Pediatrics, 25 Adolescent Medicine, 13 Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 8 Hospice/Palliative, 8 bare Pediatrics, 6 Pediatric Emergency, 5 each Hematology-Oncology and Developmental-Behavioral. Credentials: 35 MD, 26 M.D., 17 NP, 10 RN/NP, 8 APN, 8 APRN. Physician pediatricians (MD/DO credentials) represent roughly 30% of the capped Memphis result set.
How does the Vermont pediatrics dataset compare for pediatrician density?
Vermont (statewide, June 2026): 101 total records — a complete count below the cap. Of 101: 47 NP Pediatrics, 20 Adolescent Medicine, 8 Developmental-Behavioral, 5 Pediatric Infectious Diseases, only 4 bare Pediatrics (general MDs). Credentials: 23 M.D., 13 MD, 8 NP, 7 CPNP. Wyoming: 39 statewide (complete). Both states have sparse MD pediatrician populations; the full state is the practical territory for a rep.
What device and pharma products use a pediatrician call list?
Pediatricians prescribe vaccines (routine childhood immunization schedules, flu, COVID), ADHD medications (stimulants, non-stimulants), antibiotics, pediatric asthma inhalers and biologics (dupilumab for atopic dermatitis), and formula/nutrition products for metabolic conditions. Device reps target pediatrics for hearing screening equipment, developmental assessment tools, continuous glucose monitors for pediatric diabetes, and pulse oximetry. Note: many pediatric-indication products require MD/DO prescribers — the NP share of the result set matters more in pediatrics than in most other specialties.
Data methodology
All provider counts come from direct queries to the CMS NPI Registry API v2.1, run on
June 13, 2026. We used taxonomy_description=Pediatrics and limit=200.
No authentication required. Confirmed: Pediatrician → 0;
Pediatric Medicine → 0; Pediatrics → returns Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatrics in result set alongside physician records.
Raw responses: npi-pediatrics-memphis-tn-raw.json, npi-pediatrics-vermont-raw.json. Collection script: _data/npi-counts-pediatrics.ps1.
Related guides
- How to search the NPI registry (full guide) — complete API reference and the taxonomy_description quirk explained in detail.
- What is an NPI number and what can you look up? — NPI types, fields, and data freshness.
- How to find physicians by specialty and state — state-level NPI searches across specialties.
- How to find family medicine doctors by zip code — Family Practice returns zero; high NPI-2 organization share.
- How to find OB/GYN physicians by zip code — OB/GYN and OBGYN both return zero; the ampersand in the correct string matters.