Professional Licensing - Did you change your name before or after?

My wedding is in a month btw.

I have a friend who got married post-bar but pre-licensing. She applied using her married name so she wouldn't have to change it later. It worked for her.

I have various finance related licensing and certifications, and it wasn't too painful to change my name on those. I had to do it separately with each state since they had their own requirements but it was usually just a form and a copy of the marriage certificate. I think in your case, you should just call and ask what their requirements and costs are to change your name during the testing process vs. after, if there's even any difference.

I think it depends on how hard it is to change your name after you finish. As a teacher, all I have to do is send a copy of my marriage certificate to the DOE and they take care of the rest. Super simple. If yours is this simple, I'd wait.

I took and passed 2 bar exams. Am already sworn into one and need to go get sworn in for the other. I plan to swear in before the wedding since all the other records (exam results, ethics exam results, etc) are in my maiden name.

Unless it's going to be extremely difficult to do it one way or the other, you're probably fine to do whatever is easiest for you.

Its pretty easy to change your name afterwards to the bar here. Your question prompted me to look it up, but my colleagues have mentioned before. I simply fill out a one page form, attach copy of new gov't issued ID, and a check for $25. So no biggie

I'm not sure if it helps, but my teaching cert is printed under my maiden name, but my name has been changed in electronic files at the DOE. I was just hired at a new school and they were fine with my cert being in my old name because they would just call and verify at the DOE. When it expires in a few years, it will be reprinted with my married name.

I changed my name on my licenses after i got married. I had to send in copies of my marriage license and drivers license and $$.

I really don't know what's involved in changing my name. Probably $$. I'll have to look this up.

I'm graduating medical school this year and interviewing for residency in the fall. I'll officially change my name at the wedding in September, interview with my maiden name, and then notify wherever I match of my married name. I will receive my MD under my married name.

View Quoted Comment Hi! I was hoping you could help me gain clarification. I’m currently interviewing for residency. My wedding is March 2021 followed by graduation. I am interviewing under my current maiden name. I plan to receive my MD under my maiden name. Should I wait to change my name after graduation?

I would recommend changing your name before. I worked with an attorney who got married (to one of her former clients) after she was already an attorney and she had the worst time trying to rebrand everything in her office. She had to get new business cards, change her information with the Bar, notify all her clients, etc. It was a mess. She was a divorce attorney and married a man who she helped with a divorce.