11.2 Identification, Account Information, and Authorization

The Two-ID Rule Is Strict And Specific

Washington does not leave identification to guesswork. You are required to bring two (2) forms of current, not-expired, official, signature-bearing identification to the test site, and one of the two must be a photo identification. ** This rule applies to both test-center and online appointments — for an online exam, you present a government-issued photo ID during the proctored check-in. If you cannot produce proper identification, you will not be allowed to test and your examination fee will not be refunded, so verifying your documents the night before is one of the highest-value things you can do.

Notice the word signature-bearing. A document that has no signature line does not satisfy the requirement, even if it has your photo. That is why the handbook pairs a photo document with a second signature-bearing document. Examples of acceptable identification include:

A driver's license is convenient because it carries both a photo and a signature, but you still need a second official, signature-bearing document. Plan two documents, not one.

A few practical traps catch candidates here. An expired document does not qualify, even if the photo clearly matches — the requirement is current, not expired. A document with a printed name but no signature line does not count toward the signature-bearing requirement. And a credit card or library card only helps if it actually carries your signature. The safest combination for most people is a current driver's license or state ID (photo + signature) paired with one other signature-bearing card.

Verify both the night before, because the test site cannot accept a photocopy, a phone photo of a card, or a promise to bring the second ID later.

The Name Must Match Exactly — Including Suffixes

The name on your identification must be the same as the name you used to register for the examination, including suffixes such as Jr., Sr., II, or III. A mismatch can cost you the appointment. If your name has changed — marriage, divorce, court order — you must log on to your CNA365 account at least nine (9) calendar days before the scheduled exam and follow the instructions provided, and be prepared to supply official government documentation of the name change. You cannot resolve a name change at check-in on test day.

Account Information And Eligibility Routes

Identification is only part of being the verified candidate of record. Your CNA365 account must also carry the correct information for your eligibility route. You complete an online application in the Credentia Platform (you may get help from your training program or facility employer), pay the fee, and receive approval before you can schedule. Several non-routine routes require Department of Health (DOH) approval before you can register, including:

• Out-of-state student/graduate nurse or nursing assistant — submit an official transcript or original letterhead letter to DOH; you receive an email to complete registration if approved.
• Lapsed nursing assistant — no paid nursing service in 24 months, or certification not renewed within 3 years, requires retrain and retest.
• Alternative "Bridge" candidate — a DOH-certified Home Care Aide or Medical Assistant who completed an approved Bridge program.
• Training completed before February 1, 2015 with no prior application — submit training documentation to DOH for approval.

Why Each Detail Matters On Test Day

Every one of these fields is checked, and a single mismatch can end the appointment before the first question. The proctor or test-center agent confirms that the person in front of them is the candidate of record, that the name on both IDs matches the registration exactly, and that the scheduled exam matches what the account authorizes. They cannot quietly override a rule because you are close to finishing training or because a facility needs you to start work.

Use this pre-appointment checklist:

• Confirm the exact spelling of your name in your credentialing documents and in CNA365, including suffixes.
• Confirm your NAC credential number and enter it from the official source, not from memory.
• Confirm whether your eligibility route required DOH approval before you could register.
• Confirm whether you selected the written or oral format during the application — the oral exam must be requested on the application, not switched at check-in.
• Gather two signature-bearing IDs, one with a photo, both current and not expired.
• Resolve any name change in CNA365 at least nine calendar days out with government documentation.

The practical rule: confirm name spelling, NAC credential number, eligibility approval, and chosen format days before the appointment. Check-in is a verification step, not a negotiation — fix mismatches while there is still time to correct them through the proper channel, because an ID or name problem discovered at the appointment means a forfeited fee and a new sitting.