Record the real status and identify the uncertainty. Do not backdate completion or promise mutually incompatible schedules.
Use the current evidence
A clear explanation is more accurate than an artificial chronology created for the preferred start.
A short letter on institutional letterhead stating that the former school merged into the current one on a given date, that the program continued, and that the transcript reflects the same records does more than several pages of applicant explanation. Treat the registration as the deciding document for the credential test and gather the complete record for it: the certificate, evidence that it is in good standing on the date of application and the regulator’s contact details in case an officer wants to verify it. Gather the most recent approval or admission record, the original and any updated duty letters, proof of continued qualifying employment, and current credential documentation. Preserve the transcript as issued and create a separate identity trail using the current passport, the legal-name-change document and a concise explanation. Build the record around the whole engagement: the employer letter or contract, start and end dates, weekly schedule, work location, compensation, professional deliverables, and duties during both peak and quiet periods.