A method is disclosed for providing multiple authentication types within an authentication protocol that supports a single type of authentication for a client in communication with an authorization server over a network. One or more authentication request packets compliant with an authentication protocol are sent to the client. Each of the packets comprises a type value that specifies multiple authentication, and a data field having a value that is structured in compliance with the authentication protocol. Each of the packets is associated with one of a plurality of different authentication conversations with the client. A plurality of responses is received from the client for each of the authentication conversations. The sending and receiving steps are repeated until results are determined for the authentication conversations. The client is authenticated based on results of each of the plurality of authentication conversations. Embodiments provide multiple Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) authentication methods.