Name Changes/ID Information

To take any NCCPA exam, examinees must present two forms of ID at the testing center; a primary and secondary ID or two primary IDs.

Please keep the following in mind regarding acceptable and unacceptable IDs:

  • All IDs must contain the examinee’s pre-printed name.
  • All IDs must contain the examinee’s signature in the designated signature area when initially presented at the test center. An ID that is not already signed cannot be signed after arrival at the test center and used as acceptable ID.
  • All IDs must be valid (not expired). IDs are considered to be valid (not expired) as long as they do not contain an expiration date that has passed. If there is no expiration date on an ID, it is considered to be valid.
  • Primary IDs must contain a permanently affixed photo of the examinee
  • All IDs must be an original document (not a photocopy or fax).
  • First and last names on the IDs presented must match the name in NCCPA and Pearson VUE’s databases. However, we will accept a first name initial if the middle name is spelled out and matches. A nickname on one form of ID and the full name on another form of ID is not acceptable.
  • More than one difference in a name is not acceptable.
  • If a candidate presents an ID that is expired or invalidated (for example if corner of the ID has been clipped) it may be accepted as long as it meets the other ID requirements and is accompanied by paperwork indicating that the candidate has filed for a renewal. The renewal paperwork does not need to have a photograph and signature.
  • Grace periods are not recognized. For example, if an examinee’s driver’s license expired yesterday and the state allows a 30-day grace period for renewing the license, the ID is considered to be invalid.
  • The most common difference of a middle name or initial on one ID and not on the other is acceptable. Additionally, a middle initial on one ID and a middle name on the other is also an acceptable difference.

 

The following are a list of examples of acceptable forms of ID:

Primary ID
The primary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain a permanently affixed photo of the examinee, along with the candidate’s preprinted name and their signature.

Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the above criteria) are:

  • Driver’s License
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • Student ID
  • Naturalization Papers
  • International Driver’s License issued by Government
  • Employee ID
  • State issued ID

 

Secondary ID
The secondary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain the examinee’s pre-printed name and their signature.

Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the required criteria) are:

  • Driver’s License
  • Military ID
  • Student ID
  • Employee ID
  • Social Security card
  • Credit Card

The following are the guidelines for what name differences will and will not be accepted. However, they must also meet the criteria above.

Difference Acceptable
Frank H. Jones Frank H. Jones, Jr. Suffix difference Yes
E. Smith Elizabeth Smith First name on one, first initial on the other No
J. Mary Doe Mary Doe First initial, no first name No
Lisa Mcdonald Lisa Mcdonald Capitalization difference Yes
MaryAnne Wells Maryann Wells Capitalization and one letter difference Yes
Christina M. Jones Christina Marie Jones Middle name on one and middle initial on the other Yes
Christina M. Jones Christina Jones Middle initial on one; no middle name or initial on the other Yes
Christina Marie Jones Christina Jones Middle name on one; no middle name or initial on the other Yes
James O’Connell James OConnell Apostrophe difference Yes
W. Jerry Smith William Jerry Smith First name on one first initial on the other Yes
Christina M. Jones C.M. Jones First name on one and two initials on the other No
Jennifer Rose Johnson Jennifer Marie Johnson Different middle names No
Christina M. Jones Christina L. Jones Different middle initials No
Christina M.L. Jones Christina M. Jones Two middle initials on one and one on the other Yes
Christina M.L. Jones Christina Jones Two middle initials on one and none on the other Yes
Christina M. Jones Christina Mayer-Jones Hyphenated name vs. part of hyphenated name & initial Yes
Sarah John-Wells Sarah Wells Part of hyphenated name on one and not the other Yes
Christina Mayer-Jones Christina Mayer Part of hyphenated name on one & hyphenated name on other Yes
Christina Mayer-Jones Christina Mayer Jones Hyphenation difference Yes
Sandra M. Jones Sandy M. Jones Nick name on one full name on the other No
Maria J. Jones Martin Maria Jones Martin Middle initial missing with two middle names Yes
Maria Jane Jones Martin Maria Jones Martin One name missing if at least two names match Yes
Christina Mayor-Jones Christina Mayer-Jones One letter difference Yes
James Johnson James Johmson One letter difference if only two names are shown No
Donald Alexander Donald Alexandre Letters swapped No
Mary Elizabeth Smith Mary Smith Jones Maiden name on one but middle name on the other No
Russell Evan Evan Russell First and last names reversed Yes
Evan Russell Stanley Evan Stanley Russell Three names not in matching order Yes
Satveer G. G. Satveer Initial and name reversed No
Satveer G. Satveer Gupta Last name initial versus last name No
J. P. Jones John Peter Jones Two initials versus two names No
Madonna Madonna Ciccone One name on one and two names on the other No
Maria Alonzo Gonzales Roberta Garcia Maria Alonzo Garcia All names do not appear but first and last name match exactly Yes
Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Schwarzeneg Name truncated (shortened)to fit into field Yes
Jo Ann Smith JoAnn Smith Typo: extra space in first name Yes
MaryAnn Schmidt Mary Ann Schmidt Spacing Yes
Lisa McDonald Lisa Mc Donald Spacing Yes

PANCE Resources

Learn more about your future career as a certified physician assistant.