🌍 Step-by-Step Guide to OET for Nurses and Healthcare Workers

✅ Step 1: What is OET?

OET (Occupational English Test) is an international English language proficiency test specifically designed for healthcare professionals. It assesses language communication skills in a medical and clinical context.

• Developed by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment.

• Recognized by healthcare boards and councils across countries such as UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, USA, Canada, and more.

• Used to demonstrate English language proficiency for registration, immigration, and employment purposes.

🏥 Step 2: Who Should Take the OET?

OET is intended for 12 healthcare professions, including:

• Nurses

• Doctors

• Dentists

• Pharmacists

• Physiotherapists

• Radiographers

• Occupational Therapists

• Optometrists

• Podiatrists

• Speech Pathologists

• Dietitians

• Veterinary Scientists

For this guide, we'll focus on NURSES.

📋 Step 3: What is OET Used For?

For nurses and healthcare workers, OET is mainly used for:

• Professional registration in English-speaking countries

• Visa applications (where English language proof is needed)

• Employment in healthcare sectors

• Demonstrating workplace-relevant English skills

🧪 Step 4: OET Test Format & Modules

There are 4 modules, just like IELTS or TOEFL, but with medical context:

Module Time Content

Listening 40 minutes 3 parts – consulting patients, professional discussions

Reading 60 minutes 3 parts – general healthcare texts, patient-focused texts

Writing 45 minutes 1 task – writing a referral/transfer/discharge letter

Speaking 20 minutes 2 role-plays – typical healthcare workplace conversations

✅ Profession-specific: For nurses, all content relates to nursing practice.

🎯 Step 5: OET Passing Score (Nurses) – Country-wise

OET is scored on a scale from 0 to 500 in each sub-test. Scores are given in grades A to E:

Score Grade Proficiency Level

450–500 A Very high proficiency

400–440 B High proficiency (acceptable)

350–390 C+ Acceptable for some institutions

300–340 C Limited proficiency

Below 300 D/E Low proficiency

Download 6 weeks OET Study Plan