State Board Exam Identification

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Specializes in emergency nursing-ENPC, CATN, CEN.

Hello. I was asked a question by a friend who will be sitting for her state board exam in Feb. Her question was about showing proof of ID

Now--does first and last name must be identical on both forms?

Here is her question -quoted:

"I am scheduled to take the NCLEX on Feb. 11th. Pearson VUE says that first and last name must match approved i.d. Even though divorced, I still use my married last name and my maiden name is still on my driver's license. Have you ever heard of anyone being denied taking their NCLEX b/c both last names are listed even though they are not hyphened"?

I asked her to contact her state board as well. It's been a few (ahem) decades since I sat first sat for the boards-back then everything had to match. Thanks for your help

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

From the NCSBN 2010 Candidate Bulletin:

Your Name

The first and last name printed on your identification must match exactly the first and last name printed on your ATT. If the name with which you have registered is different from the name on your identification, you must bring legal name change documentation with you to the test center on the day of your test. The only acceptable forms of legal documentation are: marriage licenses, divorce decrees and/or court action legal name change documents. All documents must be in English and must be original documents. Candidates wishing to make a legal name change, address change or e-mail address change must contact their board of nursing. This cannot be done at the test center.

The full document is available here: https://www.ncsbn.org/1213.htm. She should definitely contact her state BON for guidance!

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Specializes in emergency nursing-ENPC, CATN, CEN.

Thank you so much. I copied your link and response and emailed it to her. I also told her that allnurses.com has great resources for nurses

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I replied to someone in another thread...but I'll post it here. Someone from my NS had changed her name (I can't recall why, I think it was marriage). She went to take the NCLEX. The name she registered with did not exactly match the name on her ID. She was turned away. She tried explaining, they said "sorry, but no test." She was out $200 and had to reregister.

Her best bet is to contact the BON, or she can get a new ID that reflects whatever name she's currently using and wants to be licensed as.

Or she can follow LunaRN's post and bring the name change documents with her to the test...but if it were me, I wouldn't want to take any chances it'd be rejected, and I'd get that new ID right away.

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Thanks Needsmore$ for this thread! MeriWhen it is me...I actually know Needsmore$ from another board and I had emailed her along with starting my own thread here...lol.

Incase you didn't see, I did go to the DMV and have my maiden name removed from my driver's license. I did not want there be any confusion based on what last name I use.

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