diff --git a/backend/openapi.yml b/backend/openapi.yml
index 23d37d6a9a..c131c743e3 100644
--- a/backend/openapi.yml
+++ b/backend/openapi.yml
@@ -2769,6 +2769,7 @@ components:
       required:
         - number
         - portfolio_id
+        - nick_name
     CAN:
       description: Common Accounting Number (CAN) Object
       type: object
diff --git a/backend/ops_api/ops/schemas/cans.py b/backend/ops_api/ops/schemas/cans.py
index 94aaa38e57..692eab9f37 100644
--- a/backend/ops_api/ops/schemas/cans.py
+++ b/backend/ops_api/ops/schemas/cans.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class GetCANListRequestSchema(Schema):
 
 
 class CreateUpdateCANRequestSchema(Schema):
-    nick_name = fields.String(load_default=None)
+    nick_name = fields.String(required=True)
     number = fields.String(required=True)
     description = fields.String(allow_none=True, load_default=None)
     portfolio_id = fields.Integer(required=True)
diff --git a/backend/ops_api/tests/ops/can/test_can.py b/backend/ops_api/tests/ops/can/test_can.py
index 895849d2a8..59d3c5fa4b 100644
--- a/backend/ops_api/tests/ops/can/test_can.py
+++ b/backend/ops_api/tests/ops/can/test_can.py
@@ -166,15 +166,17 @@ def test_can_post_creates_can(budget_team_auth_client, mocker, loaded_db):
         "portfolio_id": 6,
         "number": "G998235",
         "description": "Test CAN Created by unit test",
+        "nick_name": "MockNickname",
     }
 
-    mock_output_data = CAN(id=517, portfolio_id=6, number="G998235", description="Test CAN Created by unit test")
+    mock_output_data = CAN(
+        id=517, portfolio_id=6, number="G998235", description="Test CAN Created by unit test", nick_name="MockNickname"
+    )
     mocker_create_can = mocker.patch("ops_api.ops.services.cans.CANService.create")
     mocker_create_can.return_value = mock_output_data
     response = budget_team_auth_client.post("/api/v1/cans/", json=input_data)
 
     # Add fields that are default populated on load.
-    input_data["nick_name"] = None
     input_data["funding_details_id"] = None
     assert response.status_code == 201
     mocker_create_can.assert_called_once_with(input_data)
@@ -182,6 +184,7 @@ def test_can_post_creates_can(budget_team_auth_client, mocker, loaded_db):
     assert response.json["portfolio_id"] == mock_output_data.portfolio_id
     assert response.json["number"] == mock_output_data.number
     assert response.json["description"] == mock_output_data.description
+    assert response.json["nick_name"] == mock_output_data.nick_name
 
 
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("app_ctx")
@@ -299,6 +302,7 @@ def test_can_put(budget_team_auth_client, mocker, unadded_can):
         "description": "Test CAN Created by unit test",
         "portfolio_id": 6,
         "funding_details_id": 1,
+        "nick_name": "MockNickname",
     }
 
     mocker_update_can = mocker.patch("ops_api.ops.services.cans.CANService.update")
@@ -306,11 +310,11 @@ def test_can_put(budget_team_auth_client, mocker, unadded_can):
     mocker_update_can.return_value = unadded_can
     response = budget_team_auth_client.put(f"/api/v1/cans/{test_can_id}", json=update_data)
 
-    update_data["nick_name"] = None
     assert response.status_code == 200
     mocker_update_can.assert_called_once_with(update_data, test_can_id)
     assert response.json["number"] == unadded_can.number
     assert response.json["description"] == unadded_can.description
+    assert response.json["nick_name"] == unadded_can.nick_name
 
 
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("app_ctx")
@@ -331,6 +335,7 @@ def test_can_put_404(budget_team_auth_client):
         "description": "Test CAN Created by unit test",
         "portfolio_id": 6,
         "funding_details_id": 1,
+        "nick_name": "MockNickname",
     }
 
     response = budget_team_auth_client.put(f"/api/v1/cans/{test_can_id}", json=update_data)