20 C.F.R. § 404.1502

Definitions for this subpart

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As used in the subpart—

(a) Acceptable medical source means a medical source who is a:

(1) Licensed physician (medical or osteopathic doctor);

(2) Licensed psychologist, which includes:

(i) A licensed or certified psychologist at the independent practice level; or

(ii) A licensed or certified school psychologist, or other licensed or certified individual with another title who performs the same function as a school psychologist in a school setting, for impairments of intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and borderline intellectual functioning only;

(3) Licensed optometrist for impairments of visual disorders, or measurement of visual acuity and visual fields only, depending on the scope of practice in the State in which the optometrist practices;

(4) Licensed podiatrist for impairments of the foot, or foot and ankle only, depending on whether the State in which the podiatrist practices permits the practice of podiatry on the foot only, or the foot and ankle;

(5) Qualified speech-language pathologist for speech or language impairments only. For this source, qualified means that the speech-language pathologist must be licensed by the State professional licensing agency, or be fully certified by the State education agency in the State in which he or she practices, or hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association;

(6) Licensed audiologist for impairments of hearing loss, auditory processing disorders, and balance disorders within the licensed scope of practice only (with respect to claims filed (see § 404.614) on or after March 27, 2017);

(7) Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or other licensed advanced practice nurse with another title, for impairments within his or her licensed scope of practice (only with respect to claims filed (see § 404.614) on or after March 27, 2017); or

(8) Licensed Physician Assistant for impairments within his or her licensed scope of practice (only with respect to claims filed (see § 404.614) on or after March 27, 2017).

(b) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Social Security or his or her authorized designee.

(c) Laboratory findings means one or more anatomical, physiological, or psychological phenomena that can be shown by the use of medically acceptable laboratory diagnostic techniques. Diagnostic techniques include chemical tests (such as blood tests), electrophysiological studies (such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms), medical imaging (such as X-rays), and psychological tests.

(d) Medical source means an individual who is licensed as a healthcare worker by a State and working within the scope of practice permitted under State or Federal law, or an individual who is certified by a State as a speech-language pathologist or a school psychologist and acting within the scope of practice permitted under State or Federal law.

(e) Nonmedical source means a source of evidence who is not a medical source. This includes, but is not limited to:

(1) You;

(2) Educational personnel (for example, school teachers, counselors, early intervention team members, developmental center workers, and daycare center workers);

(3) Public and private social welfare agency personnel; and

(4) Family members, caregivers, friends, neighbors, employers, and clergy.

(f) Objective medical evidence means signs, laboratory findings, or both.

(g) Signs means one or more anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be observed, apart from your statements (symptoms). Signs must be shown by medically acceptable clinical diagnostic techniques. Psychiatric signs are medically demonstrable phenomena that indicate specific psychological abnormalities, e.g., abnormalities of behavior, mood, thought, memory, orientation, development, or perception, and must also be shown by observable facts that can be medically described and evaluated.

(h) State agency means an agency of a State designated by that State to carry out the disability or blindness determination function.

(i) Symptoms means your own description of your physical or mental impairment.

(j) We or us means, as appropriate, either the Social Security Administration or the State agency making the disability or blindness determination.

(k) You or your means, as appropriate, the person who applies for benefits or for a period of disability, the person for whom an application is filed, or the person who is receiving benefits based on disability or blindness.

[82 FR 5864, Jan. 18, 2017; 82 FR 15132, Mar. 27, 2017]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2,158 cases (1,287 in the last 5 years), 1962–2026 · leading case: Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137 (1987).

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Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137 (1987). · cites it 4× “" 20 CFR § 404.1502 (a) (1961). This regulation, with minor revisions, remained in effect until the sequential evaluation regulations were promulgated in 1978.”

Jeffrey Benton, on Behalf of Lynn Benton v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart, Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 331 F.3d 1030 (9th Cir. 2003). · cites it 5× “Because we conclude that the ALJ misapplied 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 , the regulation that addresses the definition of “treating source,” we reverse the district court, vacate the ruling of the Commissioner and remand.”

Fleischer v. Astrue, 774 F. Supp. 2d 875 (N.D. Ohio 2011). · cites it 3× “Chad Deal, Plaintiffs other proffered “treating physician,” finding that that neither doctor met the definition of a treating physician under 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 . (Report at 5-7.) He also concluded, however, that the ALJ erred by neglecting to explain his conclusion that…”

Cole v. Astrue, 661 F.3d 931 (6th Cir. 2011). · cites it 3× “20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 . Under one such standard, commonly called the treating physician rule, the Commissioner has mandated that the ALJ “will” give a treating source’s opinion controlling weight if it “is well-supported by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic…”

Anthony Reeves v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 618 F. App'x 267 (6th Cir. 2015). · cites it 3× “Biyani’s Opinion 1. The Treating-Source Rule The Social Security Administration defines three types of medical sources: non-examining sources, non-treating (but examining) sources, and treating sources.”

Leslie Woods v. Kilolo Kijakazi, 32 F.4th 785 (9th Cir. 2022). “See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 (a)(2), (7), (8); see also id.”

Crum v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 660 F. App'x 449 (6th Cir. 2016). · cites it 2× “See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1502 , 404.1527(c)(2). More than “simply a formality,” this procedural requirement of the treating physician rule protects a claimant’s ability to understand the disposition of his case and allows for meaningful judicial review of disability determinations.”

Claire McDonald v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 795 F.2d 1118 (1st Cir. 1986). · cites it 3× “20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 (a) (1961) (emphasis added).”

Gross v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 247 F. Supp. 3d 824 (E.D. Mich. 2017). · cites it 2× “20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 . If the ALJ does not afford controlling weight to a treating physician’s opinion, the ALJ must meet certain procedural requirements.”

Ashley Gerstner v. Nancy A. Berryhill, 879 F.3d 257 (7th Cir. 2018). “§ 423 (d)(5)(B); 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1502 (a)(2), 404.1527(a)(1),(b),(c); SSR 06-03P, 2006 WL 2329939 (Aug.”

Jeffrey Walker v. Comm'r, Soc. Sec., 911 F.3d 550 (8th Cir. 2018). · cites it 2× “" 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1502 , 416.902 (2015). 1 Opinions by treating physicians receive controlling weight if they are well-supported by the medical evidence and are "not inconsistent with the other substantial evidence in [the] case record .”

Blakley v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 581 F.3d 399 (6th Cir. 2009). “” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502 . Dr. Kiefer treated Blakley’s neck injury and performed the discectomy.”

Show all 2,158 citing cases →

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a) — 31 cases

Smith v. Heckler, 595 F. Supp. 1173 (E.D. Cal. 1984).

Paul v. Ribicoff, 206 F. Supp. 606 (D. Colo. 1962).

Longo v. Weinberger, 369 F. Supp. 250 (E.D. Pa. 1974).

Brill v. Celebrezze, 232 F. Supp. 296 (E.D.N.Y 1964).

Quinn v. Richardson, 353 F. Supp. 363 (E.D. Pa. 1973).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a)(1) — 3 cases

Wiggins v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Ky. 2021).

Abrams v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Ky. 2021).

Higgins v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Ky. 2024).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a)(2) — 2 cases

Keane v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D.N.Y. 2023).

Lewis v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (E.D. Wash. 2020).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a)(4) — 1 case

Simpson (D.S.C. 2026).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a)(7) — 3 cases

Jones v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (C.D. Ill. 2021).

Blackwell v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (D.N.J. 2022).

Barigian v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Wash. 2023).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(a)(8) — 4 cases

Norton, Sr. v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (M.D. Fla. 2021).

Stewart v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Wash. 2021).

Johnson v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Wash. 2022).

Huizen v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Mich. 2025).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(b) — 5 cases

Ignatius J. Klug v. Casper W. Weinberger, Sec'y of Health, Educ. & Welfare, 514 F.2d 423 (8th Cir. 1975).

Mounts v. Finch, 304 F. Supp. 910 (S.D.W. Va 1969).

Brill v. Celebrezze, 232 F. Supp. 296 (E.D.N.Y 1964).

Miller v. Richardson, 325 F. Supp. 91 (S.D.W. Va 1970).

Hall v. Flemming, 205 F. Supp. 770 (E.D. Ky. 1962).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(c) — 2 cases

Annette Caudill Farmer v. Caspar Weinberger, Sec'y, Health, Educ. & Welfare, Defendant, 519 F.2d 627 (6th Cir. 1975).

Barnett v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (D.N.J. 2023).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(d) — 2 cases

Smith v. Soc. Sec. Admin. (E.D. Ark. 2020).

Enstall v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Wash. 2022).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(e) — 4 cases

Tue v. Kijakazi (D. Haw. 2023).

Cannon v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (D.N.J. 2024).

Cross (D. Maryland 2025).

Celestine (D. Maryland 2026).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(f) — 3 cases

Irene Infante v. Nancy A. Berryhill (C.D. Cal. 2019).

Aldridge v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. (W.D. Wash. 2023).

McKee (E.D. Tenn. 2026).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(g) — 15 cases

Michael L. Johnson v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 794 F.2d 1106 (6th Cir. 1986).

Carl v. Henry v. John W. Gardner, Sec'y of Health, Educ. & Welfare, 381 F.2d 191 (6th Cir. 1967).

Bobbie F. Bridges v. John W. Gardner, Sec'y of Health, Educ. & Welfare, 368 F.2d 86 (5th Cir. 1966).

Bethune v. Finch, 302 F. Supp. 425 (W.D. Mo. 1969).

Hermione King v. John W. Gardner, Sec'y of Health, Educ. & Welfare, 391 F.2d 401 (5th Cir. 1968).

— 20 C.F.R. § 404.1502(i) — 1 case

Garcia v. Soc. Sec. Admin. (D.N.M. 2022).

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