Frequently Asked Questions

PepKey is an independent scoring platform for peptide therapy providers. We've scored 7,362 providers across all 50 states using a published methodology. The average score is 3.5 out of 10 — we're not hiding that, it's the point. Most practices haven't documented their quality standards publicly, and PepKey makes that gap visible. We do not prescribe, treat, or diagnose — we score.

Every provider earns points by meeting objective, publicly verifiable criteria across four components: Documentation & Transparency (max 5.5 pts), Patient Signal from Google Reviews (max 2.0 pts), Independent Verification via NPI/address (max 2.5 pts), and Engagement — whether the provider has claimed their listing (max 2.0 pts). Scores are calculated on a 0–10 scale from publicly verifiable information only. Our full methodology is published.

Scores range from 0 to 10:

GREEN (8.0–10.0): Excellent — strong transparency across all components.
TEAL (5.75–7.9): Good — acceptable transparency, minor gaps.
AMBER (4.0–5.74): Fair — transparency issues present.
ORANGE (2.0–3.9): Needs Improvement — significant gaps.
RED (<2.0): High Risk — major concerns.

Each score includes a category breakdown showing exactly what contributed to or detracted from the score.

FDA-approved medications have undergone rigorous safety and efficacy review by the FDA and are manufactured under strict quality control. Compounded medications are custom-prepared by a compounding pharmacy — they are not FDA-approved, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated through the same process. Many peptide therapies are only available as compounded preparations. This isn't inherently bad — but it must be disclosed. Our Peptide Library explains the approval status of individual peptides.

Verified means a provider has been independently screened against our criteria and received a trust score. All providers in our directory are screened. Featured means a provider pays for premium placement — they appear higher in search results and have an enhanced profile. Featured status is always labeled. It does not affect the trust score. A Featured provider with a 5.5 is still a 5.5.

No. PepKey is a verification and information platform. We do not prescribe, diagnose, or treat. Nothing on PepKey constitutes medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Our role is to help you find and evaluate providers — not to replace them.

Yes. We only collect information necessary for verification. Patient inquiries are routed but never stored beyond delivery. Provider data comes from publicly available sources unless you provide additional documentation during the claim process. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

No. This is a non-negotiable principle. Paid tiers on PepKey affect placement (Featured providers appear at the top of directory listings) and features (enhanced profiles, inquiry routing). They do not affect scores. Scores are based on verifiable criteria only — practices earn them, not buy them. A featured provider with a 5.5 score appears above organic results, but their score is still 5.5.

Visit pepkey.org/claim and search for your practice. You'll need to verify ownership through business license, medical license, and contact verification. Claiming your listing adds +2.0 points to your trust score (a significant boost on the 0–10 scale) and initiates verification review. It takes about 5 minutes.

Yes — by meeting more of our verification criteria. Claim your listing (+2.0 pts), add your medical director (+1.5 pts), document your prescription process (+1.0 pts), disclose compounding status (+0.75 pts), name your pharmacy source (+0.75 pts), and more. See our full methodology for all criteria and point values.

PepKey offers three paid plans — Starter, Pro, and Featured — each adding more visibility, analytics, and support tools. Basic listings are always free. Current pricing and feature details are available on the provider listing page or inside your provider dashboard.

Paid members can submit a formal appeal: provide supporting evidence, request a re-review, and receive a detailed response. Appeals do NOT guarantee a score change — integrity is non-negotiable. Free tier members receive their score as-is with generic improvement suggestions. This turns a low score into an improvement opportunity.

Our Provider Data API lets platforms, researchers, and health tech companies integrate PepKey verification data. Three tiers: Explorer ($49/mo, 1K requests), Professional ($149/mo, 10K requests), and Enterprise ($399/mo, unlimited). All tiers include trust scores, provider profiles, and category breakdowns. See API documentation for details.