Am I going to be able to test?

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Dec 28, 2004

As long as the middle initial matches the first letter of your middle name, you shouldn't have a problem. At least that's what my BON told me...yours might feel the same way, but I'd call them just to make sure.

Jenn_RN · Dec 28, 2004

During all of the paperwork that I have had to fill out for the BRN and Nclex testing, all we were ever told by our school was that we had to have everything exactly the same on each form. For example do not spell out your middle name on one form, and use your initial on all of the rest.
They never told us that we had to make sure that the name we used had to exactly match the name on our picture ID!!!!!
I know this sounds silly, but it is exactly the type of thing that I would have a problem with. You see, my drivers license has my full name on it with my middle name spelled out, but I have never used my middle name, and I certainly didn't want it on my nursing license, so I very carefully filled out all of my paperwork using my middle initial. Today I get my Authorization To Test, and it says that the name on the certificate must match my picture ID exactly!!!!
It says that if there are problems I am to contact the BRN, and I will certainly do that tomorrow, but Im freaking out now!!!!!!
Arghh! And here I thought that I was being so good at not freaking out or stressing out during the period between graduation and testing. So much for that. Anyhoo, thanks for letting me rant

I would call, but if it does pose a problem, go get a new license made.

webblarsk · Dec 29, 2004

I believe as long as the initial's match it will be fine. I think that is what the BON told me also! I don't think I had a problem!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

My driver's license has just my middle initial, but I signed it without the initial. I wonder if that will end up being a problem ....lol

Hopefully, your initial being the same as the first letter of you middle name on your license should be a clue that maybe you are who you say you are! :chuckle

Definately call and find out ahead of time, what a mess....... :uhoh3:

Good luck on your test!!!!!

Nightcrawler, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

Thank you all for your responses, I called the BRN first thing this morning, and apparently this is a big deal, and I would have been turned away at the testing center. So now I have to do a formal "name change" with the BRN, which involves changing my official name in their records from a middle initial to a name, then wait for them to notify the testing agency and wait for the testing agency to issue me a new authorization to test. Hopefully they won't be pains and require me to pay the $200 again. Ofcourse in order to do this 'name change' thing I have to fax a copy of my birth certificate to the BRN and with all of the moves over the last couple of years I no longer have access to one. I called my birth state, ordered a new copy to be sent to me tomorrow by fed ex for a almost reasonable fee, and voila, hopefully I will be back in business.

I just read back over this post---I have never seen such huge runon sentences before-lol! I would fix it, but I don't have the energy, forgive me!! Thanks again for all of the support and goodnight!

Jenn_RN · Dec 29, 2004

Thank you all for your responses, I called the BRN first thing this morning, and apparently this is a big deal, and I would have been turned away at the testing center. So now I have to do a formal "name change" with the BRN, which involves changing my official name in their records from a middle initial to a name, then wait for them to notify the testing agency and wait for the testing agency to issue me a new authorization to test. Hopefully they won't be pains and require me to pay the $200 again. Ofcourse in order to do this 'name change' thing I have to fax a copy of my birth certificate to the BRN and with all of the moves over the last couple of years I no longer have access to one. I called my birth state, ordered a new copy to be sent to me tomorrow by fed ex for a almost reasonable fee, and voila, hopefully I will be back in business.
I just read back over this post---I have never seen such huge runon sentences before-lol! I would fix it, but I don't have the energy, forgive me!! Thanks again for all of the support and goodnight!

I don't understand why you can't just get a new driver's license made, reflecting the same name that is on your ATT. Sounds like a lot less trouble to me.

webblarsk · Dec 29, 2004

Wow! What a mess. Good thing you called ahead. Good luck to you. Keep us posted!

Nightcrawler, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

In California it is not as simple as going to the DMV and having a new one made. After it is ordered it is MAILED to you within 6 weeks. Doing the name change with the BRN is a much quicker process.

NewEnglandRN, RN · Dec 29, 2004

Glad you posted this, Nightcrawler. I'm sure it will save many students some hassle around NCLEX time.

Good luck getting everything settled quickly.

Nightcrawler, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2004

Apparently this also has to do with which company your state has contracted to give the tests. The BRN told me that they would have probably accepted the middle initial, but that it is Pearson Vue that has even more stringent standards. It only makes sense for people to not take the risk and just make sure that everything matches, because you never know when you will run into a problem.

rnmi2004 · Jan 12, 2005

I'm sorry that your school didn't stress the importance of your ID matching. That is a big oversight on their part. Did other students in your class have this problem?

It was my understanding that Pearson administers NCLEX tests for all the states. I've read their rules, & it's almost like they're looking for excuses to charge you an additional $200.