Acceptable ID

Name

The first and last names printed on your identification must match exactly the first and last names found on your Authorization to Test (ATT) email. If the name with which you registered is different from the name on your identification, you must bring legal name-change documentation to the test center on the day of the test.

The only acceptable forms of legal name-change documentation are the following: 

  • marriage license 
  • divorce decree and/or court action legal name change documents

All documents must contain the name change in Roman characters and be the original copies. Candidates wishing to make a legal name change, address change or email address change must contact their nursing regulatory body (NRB). This cannot be done at the test center.

If the name on your ID and ATT email do not match, you will be turned away and will have to reregister and pay another exam fee. 

Identification Requirements

When you arrive at the test center, you will be required to present one form of acceptable identification. If you arrive at the test center without acceptable identification, you will be turned away and required to reregister and pay another exam fee. If you paid the additional international scheduling fee, that will be forfeited as well.

All forms of identification must be valid and meet the following requirements. If the ID does not meet these requirements, you will be turned away and required to reregister and pay another examination fee:

  • Physical (non-digital)
  • Non-expired
  • Government-issued
  • Include name (in Roman characters)
    • First and last names printed on the presented identification must match exactly the first and last names found on the Authorization to Test (ATT) email.
  • Include recent photograph
  • Include signature
    • If the ID does not contain a signature but meets all other ID requirements, a secondary form of identification is required. The signature on the secondary ID must match exactly with the first and last name on the primary ID and with the names that you provided when you registered. The secondary identification must contain a signature (in Roman characters).

Examples of acceptable forms of identification for domestic test centers are:

  • Passport books and cards
  • Driver’s license
  • Provincial/territorial or state identification card
  • Permanent residence card
  • Military identification card

The only identifications acceptable for international test centers, including Puerto Rico, are:​

  • Passport books and cards

If your ID does not contain a signature but meets all other ID requirements listed above, you must bring in a secondary form of identification to the test center. The signature on your secondary ID must match exactly with the first and last name on your primary ID and with the names that you provided when you registered. The secondary identification must contain:

  • Signature (in Roman characters)

Definitions of Domestic and International Test Centers

Identification from a U.S. Sanctioned (Embargoed) Country

Due to U.S. trade restrictions, candidates who indicate that they live in a sanctioned country are unable to be admitted to sit for the NCLEX. This is a federal requirement by The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

In order to be admitted to the NCLEX, candidates who hold a passport from a sanctioned country must also present proof of residency (government issued identification) from a non-sanctioned country. This only applies to candidates presenting a passport from a sanctioned country.