OET guide
OET requirements by country for nurses and doctors
The OET grade you need depends on where you want to work, your profession and sometimes the date you sat the test. This page lists the minimum OET scores published by the main regulators for nurses and doctors, with a link to each regulator's own page. Every figure below was checked on the regulator's official website in October 2026.
Requirements change, sometimes at short notice. Australia changed its OET minimums for tests taken from 23 April 2026, for example. This page is an independent summary, checked October 2026, and is not legal or immigration advice. Before you book a test or apply, confirm the current requirements on your regulator's own website. LetterScore AI is not affiliated with OET, Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment or any regulator.
Summary: OET Writing minimums
| Country | Regulator | Profession | OET Writing minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | NMC | Nurses, midwives, nursing associates | C+ (300) |
| United Kingdom | GMC | Doctors | B (350) |
| Ireland | NMBI | Nurses and midwives | C+ (300) |
| Ireland | Medical Council | Doctors | B (350) |
| Australia | Ahpra and National Boards | All registered professions, including nurses and doctors | 350 (tests on or after 23 April 2026); C+ for tests on or before 22 April 2026 |
| New Zealand | Nursing Council (NCNZ) | Nurses | 300 |
| New Zealand | Medical Council (MCNZ) | Doctors | 300 |
| USA | ECFMG (Intealth), 2027 Pathways | International medical graduates | 300 |
| Singapore | Singapore Medical Council (SMC) | Doctors whose medical degree was not taught in English | B |
Full details, including the other sub-tests, sitting rules and sources, are in the sections below. For what the grades and scores mean, see OET Writing score and grade B explained.
United Kingdom
| Regulator | Listening, Reading, Speaking | Writing | Sittings, test mode and validity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMC (Nursing version) | B (350+) | C+ (300+) | Two sittings within 12 months can be combined if every score in both sittings is at least C+ in Listening, Reading and Speaking and at least C (250) in Writing. Paper, computer and OET@Home accepted. Valid two years before the application is assessed. | NMC: OET and accepted tests. Checked: October 2026 |
| GMC (doctors) | B | B | All grades in the same test, from your most recent sitting. Paper, computer and OET@Home accepted. Certificate valid two years, with some extension routes (not for the sponsorship route). | GMC: using your OET certificate. Checked: October 2026 |
If you are taking PLAB, the GMC says your OET certificate must be valid on the day you sit PLAB part 1.
Ireland
| Regulator | Listening, Reading, Speaking | Writing | Sittings, test mode and validity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMBI (Nursing) | B | C+ | One test result only; combined results not accepted. OET@Home not accepted. Results must be less than two years old. | NMBI: English language requirements. Checked: October 2026 |
| Medical Council (Medicine) | B | B | All grades in a single sitting within the last two years. OET@Home not accepted. | Medical Council: English language FAQ. Checked: October 2026 |
Australia
Ahpra and the National Boards (including the Nursing and Midwifery Board and the Medical Board) accept any profession's version of OET. Which minimums apply depends on the date you sat the test.
| Test date | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or after 23 April 2026 | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 | Ahpra: accepted English language tests. Checked: October 2026 |
| On or before 22 April 2026 | B | B | C+ | B | As above. Checked: October 2026 |
- Two sittings: allowed if taken within 12 months of each other, with all four components in each sitting. Under the new scores, no component in either sitting may be below Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350 or Speaking 350. Under the old scores, no component may be below C+.
- Test mode: OET on paper or on computer at a test centre. At-home tests are not accepted.
- Validity: generally two years before you apply, with limited exceptions for continuous work or study in English.
The practical effect for nurses is significant: before 23 April 2026, C+ in Writing was enough for Australia; for tests taken from that date, Writing needs 350, the bottom of grade B.
New Zealand
| Regulator | Listening, Reading, Speaking | Writing | Sittings, test mode and validity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Council (NCNZ) | 350 | 300 | Scores can be reached over more than one sitting within 12 months of the first sitting, with all sittings in the three years before you apply. Online computer-based tests not accepted; OET on computer at an approved venue is accepted. | NCNZ: requirements for internationally qualified nurses. Checked: October 2026 |
| Medical Council (MCNZ), Medicine | 350 | 300 | One sitting, or up to two sittings in 12 months with all four components each time and no score below 300 in either sitting. Results valid within two years of applying. | MCNZ: Policy on English language requirements (PDF). Checked: October 2026 |
United States
| Body | Listening, Reading, Speaking | Writing | Sittings and test mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECFMG (Intealth), 2027 Pathways, OET Medicine | 350 | 300 | All minimums in one test administration; if any is missed, all four sub-tests must be retaken. Score must be from on or after 1 January 2025. OET@Home only for applicants with no test venue in their country. | ECFMG: 2027 Pathways, OET. Checked: October 2026 |
For nurses, requirements in the USA depend on the state board of nursing and, for immigration, on the VisaScreen certificate from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS). TruMerit lists OET among its approved tests, with profession-specific scores that were updated for tests taken after 12 May 2026, and it does not accept at-home tests. We have not listed figures here because TruMerit publishes them in a separate table; check the TruMerit VisaScreen page and your state board directly.
Singapore
| Regulator | Who it applies to | OET minimum | Sittings and validity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Medical Council (SMC) | International medical graduates whose basic medical degree was taught in a language other than English | At least grade B in each of the four sub-tests | Single sitting; accepted within two years of the test date. | SMC: documents for submission. Checked: October 2026 |
Countries and regulators not listed
OET is also recognised by other organisations, including in Canada, the Middle East and elsewhere. We only list requirements we could confirm on a regulator's own website. For example, we could not find OET minimums for licensing in the Dubai Health Authority's published licensing manual, or an OET requirement on the Singapore Nursing Board's pages, so they are not included. If your regulator is not listed, check its website or contact it directly.
Practical tips before you book
- Choose the right version. Regulators often name it: the NMC asks for the Nursing version, the Irish Medical Council, MCNZ and ECFMG for Medicine.
- Check the test mode. OET@Home is accepted by the NMC and GMC but not by Ahpra, NMBI or the Irish Medical Council, and ECFMG and TruMerit limit at-home testing.
- Plan for validity. Most regulators here accept results for about two years, measured from different dates. Do not test too early.
- Know whether you can combine sittings. If you are strong in three sub-tests and one is holding you back, a regulator that allows two sittings gives you more flexibility.
- Release your results. Most regulators verify results through the OET portal using your candidate number. Give your regulator access before you apply.
If Writing is the sub-test standing between you and registration, start with how to move from C+ to grade B, our criteria guide and, for nurses, the OET Writing guide for nurses. Weighing up tests? See OET vs IELTS for nurses and doctors.
Frequently asked questions
What OET grade do nurses need for the UK?
The NMC asks for at least B (350) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and at least C+ (300) in Writing, using the Nursing version of OET, as checked in October 2026. Results from two sittings within 12 months can be combined under conditions. Confirm on the NMC website before applying.
Did Australia change its OET Writing requirement?
Yes. For OET tests taken on or after 23 April 2026, Ahpra and the National Boards require 350 in Writing (and Listening 350, Reading 360, Speaking 360). Tests taken on or before 22 April 2026 are assessed against the old minimums, which included C+ in Writing.
Do doctors need a B in OET Writing?
For the GMC (UK), the Irish Medical Council and the Singapore Medical Council, yes: B in all four sub-tests. MCNZ (New Zealand) and ECFMG (USA) ask for 300 in Writing and 350 in the other sub-tests. Australia requires 350 in Writing for tests from 23 April 2026. Requirements change, so check your regulator.
Is OET@Home accepted for registration?
It depends on the regulator. As checked in October 2026, the NMC and GMC accept OET@Home, while Ahpra, NMBI and the Irish Medical Council do not. ECFMG allows it only where there is no test venue in your country.