Need clarification about ID mismatch for Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam

Akurathi Surekha 25 Reputation points
2026-05-29T12:53:52.08+00:00

Dear Support Team,

I recently attempted to take the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam, but I received a message stating that my identification card did not match the exam requirements.

I would like to understand what issue was found with my identification document. Could you please clarify what information did not match and how I can resolve the issue?

I want to make sure my identification meets all requirements before attempting the exam again.

Thank you for your assistance.

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Answer accepted by question author
Jerald Felix 18,760 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-05-29T12:58:35.2933333+00:00

Hello Akurathi Surekha,

Greetings! Thanks for raising this question in Q&A forum.

I'm sorry to hear your AZ-900 exam attempt was blocked that must have been very stressful. The good news is this is a fixable situation! The most common reason for an ID mismatch during a Microsoft exam check-in is that the name on your government-issued ID doesn't exactly match the name on your Microsoft Certification profile. Even a small difference like a missing middle name, an extra space, or a spelling variation is enough for the proctor to reject it. Let me walk you through how to identify and fix the issue before your next attempt.

Step 1: Check Your Microsoft Certification Profile Name

Sign in to your Microsoft Learn profile at https://learn.microsoft.com, click on your profile icon, go to Credentials, and then click Edit profile. Note down the exact first name, middle name (if any), and last name shown there. This is what the proctor checks against your ID.

Step 2: Compare It Character by Character with Your ID

Take your government-issued ID and compare every character of your name with what's in your Microsoft Certification profile. Watch out for common mismatches such as a name on the ID having initials expanded (e.g. "A. Surekha" vs "Akurathi Surekha"), extra or missing middle names, hyphenated names, spelling differences, or name order differences (first name and last name swapped).

Step 3: Update Your Certification Profile if Needed

If you find a mismatch, you can request a name correction through Microsoft Credentials support. Go to https://aka.ms/certhelp and submit a request to correct your profile name so it exactly matches your government-issued ID. Include a clear photo of your ID (with sensitive details like ID number blacked out if needed) so they can make the correction accurately.

Step 4: Make Sure Your ID Meets All Requirements

Before your next attempt, also confirm that your ID is government-issued (passport, national ID, or driving licence), valid and not expired, an original document (no photocopies or digital images), and contains your full name, your photograph, and your signature. All four of these are required for both online proctored and test centre exams.

Step 5: Contact Pearson VUE for Specific Clarification

Since Pearson VUE is the exam delivery provider for Microsoft certifications, they can tell you exactly what was flagged during your check-in. Reach out to Pearson VUE support directly at https://home.pearsonvue.com/microsoft/contact and ask them to clarify which specific part of your ID did not match, so you can fix the exact issue before retaking the exam.

Step 6: Reschedule Only After the Fix is Confirmed

Please do not reschedule and retake the AZ-900 until you have confirmed that your profile name and ID match exactly. Attempting again with the same mismatch will result in the same outcome.

If this answer helps you kindly accept the answer which will help others who have similar questions.

Best Regards,

Jerald Felix.

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  1. Akurathi Surekha 25 Reputation points
    2026-05-29T13:25:14.6233333+00:00

    Hello Support Team,

    I have already booked my Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) exam appointment for Sunday. However, I need to change or update some of my personal details that were entered during the booking process.

    Could you please let me know how I can edit or correct my details before the exam date? I would also like to know whether updating these details will affect my scheduled appointment.

    Thank you for your assistance.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-29T12:54:09.1966667+00:00

    For Microsoft certification exams, the name on the identification document must exactly match the name on the Microsoft Certification profile used to register the exam. If there’s any mismatch, the proctor can’t allow the exam to proceed.

    Common mismatch issues include:

    1. Spelling differences or extra characters
      • Example: Missing or extra letters, reversed name order, or duplicated name text.
      • Even small differences (extra spaces, hyphens, middle names, initials) can cause a mismatch.
    2. Different legal name on ID vs. profile
      • Example: Married vs. maiden name, or a recently changed legal name not yet updated in the Microsoft Certification profile.
    3. Invalid or unacceptable ID
      • ID must be:
        • Original (no photocopies)
        • Valid (unexpired)
        • Government-issued
        • Contain name, photo, and signature
      • If any of these are missing, the ID does not meet requirements.

    How to resolve this before retaking AZ-900:

    1. Verify the name on the Microsoft Certification profile
      • Ensure the first and last name in the profile exactly match the first and last name on the government-issued ID (same spelling, order, and characters).
      • If the legal name has changed, update the certification profile accordingly using the guidance in Manage your certification profile.
    2. Verify the ID meets requirements
      • Confirm the ID is government-issued, unexpired, and includes name, photo, and signature.
      • If the current ID is being renewed or changed, note that renewal or name-change forms are not accepted for online proctored exams.
    3. If the issue is unclear or persists
      • Contact Pearson VUE support to ask what prevented ID acceptance and to confirm which ID types are valid for the next attempt.
      • If the name in the certification profile needs correction and cannot be changed directly, submit a request to Microsoft Credentials support.

    By ensuring the certification profile name and the government-issued ID match exactly and that the ID meets all format requirements, the AZ-900 exam check-in should proceed without this issue.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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