Almost every English-speaking country asks overseas nurses to prove their English. The two tests you see most are OET (the Occupational English Test) and IELTS Academic. This guide explains both tests and lists the scores that each regulator asks for.
All scores were checked on the regulators’ own pages in October 2026. Regulators change their scores. Always check the official page for your country before you book a test.
The two tests at a glance
| OET | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Healthcare workers in 12 professions. Choose the Nursing version. | Study and professional registration, including nurses |
| Parts | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Content | Listening and Reading use general healthcare topics. Writing and Speaking are nursing tasks, such as a referral letter and a role-play with a patient. | General academic topics, not about healthcare |
| Scores | 0 to 500 in steps of 10, for each part, with a grade from A (highest) to E | Band 0 to 9 in half bands, for each part, plus an overall band |
| Ways to take it | On paper, on computer at a test venue, or OET@Home | At a test centre, or online |
| Results | Usually within 6 days on computer or at home, about 12 days on paper | Ask your test centre |
| How long results count | Each regulator decides | IELTS recommends two years; each regulator decides |
Sources: OET test overview, OET results and scoring, IELTS Academic, IELTS scoring.
How OET is scored
Each of the four OET sub-tests gets a score from 0 to 500 and a letter grade. Regulators usually ask for grade B (350 or more) and sometimes accept C+ (300 to 340) in one part, often writing. Listening and Reading each have 42 questions. OET says a grade B (350) usually needs at least 30 correct answers. You can ask for a re-mark within 72 hours of getting your results.
OET does not set an expiry date. It says each recognising organisation decides how long it accepts results.
How IELTS is scored
Each part gets a band from 0 to 9. Your overall band is the average of the four parts, rounded to the nearest half band. The test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes, and Speaking 11 to 14 minutes. IELTS recommends that results count as valid for two years. Some organisations accept them for longer.
Minimum IELTS Academic scores by regulator
L = Listening, R = Reading, W = Writing, S = Speaking. Checked October 2026.
| Country and regulator | L | R | W | S | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK: NMC | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 | Not set |
| Ireland: NMBI | 7.0* | 7.0* | 7.0* | 7.0* | 7.0 |
| Australia: NMBA (tests from 23 April 2026) | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 | 7 |
| New Zealand: Nursing Council | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 | Not set |
| Canada, Ontario: CNO | 7 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 7 |
| Canada, British Columbia: BCCNM | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Canada, Alberta: CRNA | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| US: VisaScreen for RNs (tests from 12 May 2026) | Not set | Not set | Not set | 7 | 6.5 |
| UAE: exam exemption route (PQR) | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | 5.0 |
* Ireland asks for 7.0 in three skills and accepts 6.5 in any one of the four. Ontario accepts IELTS General Training as well as Academic.
Minimum OET scores by regulator
Checked October 2026.
| Country and regulator | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK: NMC | B (350) | B (350) | C+ (300) | B (350) |
| Ireland: NMBI | B (350)* | B (350)* | B (350)* | B (350)* |
| Australia: NMBA (tests from 23 April 2026) | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 |
| New Zealand: Nursing Council | 350 | 350 | 300 | 350 |
| Canada, Ontario: CNO | B (350) | C+ (330) | C+ (320) | B (350) |
| Canada, British Columbia: BCCNM | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| Canada, Alberta: CRNA | Not accepted | Not accepted | Not accepted | Not accepted |
| US: VisaScreen for RNs (tests from 12 May 2026) | 320 | 340 | 350 | 360 |
| UAE: exam exemption route (PQR) | C** | C** | C** | C** |
* Ireland accepts C+ (300 to 340) in any one of the four sub-tests. ** The UAE PQR says only “not less than C” and gives no score per sub-test.
Note the differences. Australia’s new OET scores are higher than 350 in Reading and Speaking. The US VisaScreen asks for 360 in Speaking and 350 in Writing. Ontario asks for 330 in Reading and 320 in Writing.
Can you combine two test sittings?
If you miss one score, some regulators let you use your best result from two sittings. Others want everything in one sitting.
| Regulator | Combine two sittings? | Other rules |
|---|---|---|
| UK: NMC | Yes, two sittings of the same test, taken within 12 months of each other. In both sittings, no IELTS score may be below 6.5 (6 for writing), and no OET grade below C+ (C for writing). | Tests must be less than two years old when NMC assesses your application. IELTS Online and the One Skill Retake are not accepted. OET@Home is accepted. |
| Ireland: NMBI | No. One result only. | Less than two years old when you apply for registration. No IELTS online, no One Skill Retake, no OET at home. |
| Australia: NMBA | Yes, two sittings within 12 months. For IELTS, overall 7 in each sitting and no part below 6.5. For OET, no part below 320 (L), 340 (R), 350 (W) or 350 (S). | Results are valid for two years before you apply, with some exceptions. At-home tests are not accepted. OET on computer at a test centre is accepted. |
| New Zealand: Nursing Council | Yes, more than one sitting. You must reach the scores within 12 months of your first sitting. | All sittings within three years before you apply. Online tests are not accepted, but OET on computer at an approved venue is. PTE is not accepted. |
| Canada, Ontario: CNO | No. All scores in one complete attempt. The IELTS One Skill Retake within 60 days is allowed. | Within two years of registering. |
| Canada, British Columbia: BCCNM | Not stated. | Evidence no more than two years old. IELTS and OET in person only. |
| Canada, Alberta: CRNA | Not stated. | IELTS and CELBAN results expire two years after the test date. |
| US: VisaScreen | Not stated. | At-home versions are not accepted. Tests taken before 12 May 2026 use the old scores. |
Sources: NMC, NMC IELTS, NMC OET, NMBI, Ahpra, Nursing Council of New Zealand, CNO, BCCNM, CRNA, TruMerit VisaScreen.
When you may not need a test
Some regulators accept other evidence. Two examples:
- Ireland (NMBI): you can skip the test if you trained in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the US or the UK, or if you practised for 3 years after registration in one of those countries within the last 5 years.
- US (VisaScreen): you can skip the test if your nursing education was in the UK, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland or the US, and taught in English.
In the UAE, the unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) ask for IELTS 5.0, OET grade C, TOEFL 500 or Cambridge 169 only in one case. That is when you are exempt from the licensing exam because you hold a licence from a listed country, and you either studied in another language or your licence is from a non-English-speaking listed country (PQR, section 21.12). See the UAE nursing licence guide.
How to choose
There is no single right answer. These questions can help.
- Which countries might you apply to? Make a list and check each one. If Alberta is on your list, OET will not work there. If Ontario is on your list, IELTS General Training also counts.
- Might you need two sittings? The UK, Australia and New Zealand let you combine sittings. Ireland and Ontario do not.
- Which content suits you? OET Writing and Speaking use nursing tasks, like a referral letter or a talk with a patient. IELTS uses general academic topics.
- Which format is accepted? Many regulators reject at-home or online versions. Book a test centre version unless your regulator says otherwise.
- When will you apply? Most results count for two years. Do not take the test too early.
Australia’s boards say they set their scores at equal levels across all accepted tests, and that “it is not easier to achieve the required scores on one test, compared with any of the others” (Ahpra).
Test fees depend on the country and the test venue. Check the price on the official booking pages of OET and IELTS.
Frequently asked questions
Is OET easier than IELTS for nurses?
Not officially. Australia’s boards say they set scores at equal levels across all accepted tests, so it is not easier to reach the required scores on one test than another. OET uses nursing tasks in Writing and Speaking, while IELTS uses general academic topics. Choose the format that suits you and your target countries.
Which countries accept OET for nurse registration?
The UK (NMC), Ireland (NMBI), Australia (NMBA), New Zealand, Ontario (CNO) and British Columbia (BCCNM) all accept OET, checked October 2026. The US VisaScreen accepts it too, and so does the UAE exemption route. Alberta’s CRNA does not: it accepts only IELTS Academic and CELBAN. If Alberta is on your list, IELTS is the safer choice.
What OET score do I need for the UK NMC?
The NMC asks for grade B (350 or above) in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and C+ (300 or above) in Writing. You can combine two sittings of OET taken within 12 months, if no grade in either sitting is below C+ (or C for Writing). Your tests must be less than two years old.
Can I use IELTS Online or OET at home?
Usually not. The NMC does not accept IELTS Online, NMBI does not accept IELTS online or OET at home, and Australia, New Zealand and the US VisaScreen reject at-home versions. The NMC is an exception for OET: it accepts OET@Home. Check your regulator’s page before you book.
How long are OET and IELTS results valid?
Each regulator decides. The UK, Ireland, Australia, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta generally accept results up to two years old, with some exceptions. New Zealand accepts sittings from the three years before your application. IELTS itself recommends two years, and OET leaves it to the regulator.