Reena, a staff nurse from Kottayam, kept missing her Writing target for the UK by half a band. A colleague suggested she try OET instead.

Healthcare regulators set their own English requirements for registration, separate from visa rules. In the UK and Australia they accept IELTS Academic and OET, so check your regulator’s current figures and compare the two tests before you choose.

Which Regulators Set the Requirement?

In the UK, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registers nurses and midwives, and the General Medical Council (GMC) registers doctors. In Australia, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia work through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).

All four ask for IELTS Academic, not General Training. If you are unsure which version suits you, see how Academic and General Training differ.

What Does Each Regulator Ask For?

Requirements as of October 2026, from the NMC, the GMC, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia. Check the official page before you book a test:

Regulator Profession IELTS Academic requirement OET accepted?
Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) UK nurses and midwives At least 7 in Listening, Reading, Speaking; 6.5 in Writing Yes: B (350+) in Listening, Reading, Speaking; C+ (300+) in Writing
General Medical Council (GMC) UK doctors At least 7.0 in each skill and 7.5 overall Yes: Medicine version, at least grade B in each skill
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Nurses and midwives Overall 7; Listening, Reading, Speaking 7; Writing 6.5 Yes: Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360
Medical Board of Australia Doctors Overall 7; Listening, Reading, Speaking 7; Writing 6.5 Yes: Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360

Ahpra says the National Boards, apart from one not covered here, use the same scores, which is why both Australian rows match. Ahpra updated its minimum scores on 23 April 2026: the OET scores shown apply to tests taken on or after that date, and the IELTS figures did not change. These scores are separate from Australia’s visa English levels.

Incorrect: “OET is easier, so everyone passes.”

Correct: Ahpra says its required scores are set at equivalent levels across the accepted tests, and OET uses healthcare-based tasks, so choose the test that suits your own skills.

Can You Combine Sittings, and How Recent Must Results Be?

Each regulator has its own rule:

  • NMC: you can combine two sittings of the same test, dated within 12 months of each other and both within two years of your application being assessed. In IELTS, each sitting needs at least 6.5 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and 6 in Writing. The NMC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake.
  • GMC: your scores must come from the same test and your most recent sitting, and results are valid for two years. It accepts IELTS One Skill Retake to cover one missed skill, under set conditions.
  • Ahpra: you can use one sitting, or two sittings within 12 months, and results are valid for two years before you lodge your application. Ahpra accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, and if you use two sittings, you need an overall 7 with no band below 6.5 in either one.

Read how One Skill Retake works before you plan a retake.

What Is OET, and How Does It Differ from IELTS Academic?

The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English test for healthcare professionals. Since 2013 it has been owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a venture between Cambridge English and an Australian education provider.

OET is tailored to 12 healthcare professions, including nursing and medicine, and tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening is of general healthcare interest, Writing is specific to your profession, for example a referral or discharge letter, and Speaking is a role-play for your profession.

By comparison, IELTS Academic Reading uses texts of general interest to university students, and its Speaking test is a conversation with a certified examiner. The NMC asks nurses for the Nursing version of OET and the GMC asks doctors for the Medicine version, while Ahpra accepts any profession-specific OET test.

OET@Home is accepted by the NMC and the GMC but not by Ahpra. You can see how the main English tests compare for other tests.

What About Other Countries?

If you plan to register in Ireland, the United States, Canada or New Zealand, check that country’s own regulator, because each one sets its own requirement.

Tip

Look at the OET sample tasks for your own profession on the OET website before you book either test.

Key Takeaways

  • Each regulator sets its own English requirement, separate from visa rules.
  • All four regulators here ask for IELTS Academic, not General Training.
  • The NMC does not accept One Skill Retake; the GMC and Ahpra do.
  • The two Australian boards use the same scores.
  • OET Writing and Speaking tasks are specific to your profession.

The bottom line: Choose between IELTS Academic and OET by comparing your own skill bands with your regulator’s figures, not by what worked for a colleague.