BOC Exam: Legal Name Versus Nickname
Did You Know?
Candidates who use a nickname or shortened name in BOC Central™ risk not being admitted on exam day.
Throughout life, legal names, nicknames and shortened names all have a place. Although a nickname or shorten named may be preferred, legal names are reserved for more official moments like registration of birth, getting a driver’s license and creating a BOC Central profile.
When creating a BOC Central profile, the candidate’s legal first, last name and suffix must EXACTLY match their valid government-issued photo ID (acceptable IDs include driver’s licenses, passports and state-issued IDs). This is important as the exam admission ticket is generated from the BOC Central profile.
On exam day, candidates must present both their government-issued photo ID and exam admission ticket. Their legal first, last name and suffix as it appears on a valid government-issued photo ID must match the name reflected on the exam admission ticket. If candidates use a nickname or shortened name, the candidate will not be admitted into the exam.
| BOC Central/Admission Ticket | ID | Allowed to take Exam |
| Robert Smith | Robert Smith | YES |
| Robert Smith Jr | Robert Smith Jr | YES |
| BOC Central/Admission Ticket | ID | Allowed to take Exam |
| Bob Smith | Robert Smith | NO |
| Robert Smith | Robert Smith II | NO |
| Robert Smith | Robert Smith-Johnson | NO |
| RJ Smith | Robert James Smith | NO |
| James Smith | Robert James Smith | NO |
Candidates can avoid this common error by using the tips below.
Get it Right the First Time – When creating a BOC Central profile, candidates should match the information in their profile to EXACTLY what is listed on their valid government-issued photo ID.
Name Changes – Candidates who have a change of name (e.g.; marriage, divorce, second last name, suffix) are required to notify the BOC by logging into BOC Central and completing “AT401 – Name Change Request” form.
Before You Register for the Exam – Before you register for the BOC exam, log into BOC Central and compare the name on your profile to what is listed on your government-issued photo ID to make sure they match.
