English language requirements

This page highlights the English language requirements for international nurses interested to work in NHS or a private hospital in the U.K. This is a mandatory requirement of U.K Nursing Medical Council requirement.

IELTS

NMC will accept an IELTS Academic examination certificate that confirms you achieved:

• an overall score of at least 7, and

• at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections.

NMC accepts both the paper based and computer based IELTS Academic test delivered at a test centre.

NMC will not accept the IELTS indicator test because the security measures for the indicator test are not comparable to those in place for the face-to-face test and do not meet the standards we require for registration.

Combining IELTS test scores

You can achieve the required mark across two test sittings if:

• you sit the tests within six months of each other

• you’re tested in all four sections at the same time

• all scores in both sittings are above 6.5, and

• you achieve at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7 in the reading, listening and speaking sections in either of the two test sittings.

Combined IELTS scores: Accepted

  Listening Reading Writing Speaking
Test 1 7 6.5 6.5 7
Test 2 6.5 7 7.5 8

This combination would be accepted. The applicant has scored at least 7 in the listening, speaking and reading sections and at least 6.5 in the writing section in either of the two test sittings, and no score is lower than 6.5.

Combined IELTS scores: Not accepted

  Listening Reading Writing Speaking
Test 1 6 7.5 6.5 7
Test 2 6.5 7 7.5 7.5

This application would not be accepted. The applicant has a score lower than 6.5.

OET

NMC will accept an IELTS Academic examination certificate that confirms you achieved:

• at least a grade C+ in the writing section, and

• at least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections.

NMC accepts the OET on Paper, OET on Computer and the OET@Home.

Combining OET test scores

You can achieve the required mark across two test sittings if:

• you sit the tests within six months of each other

• you’re tested in all four sections at the same time

• all grades in both sittings are above grade C+, and

• you achieve at least a grade C+ in the writing section and at least a grade B in the reading, listening and speaking sections in either of the two test sittings.

Combined OET scores: Accepted

  Listening Reading Writing Speaking
Test 1 C+ B B B
Test 2 B B C+ B

The applicant has scored at least grade B in the listening, speaking and reading sections and at least grade C+ in the writing section in either of the two test sittings, and no score is lower than grade C+.

Combined OET scores: Not accepted

  Listening Reading Writing Speaking
Test 1 C+ B B B
Test 2 C B C+ B

This application would not be accepted. The applicant has scored lower than grade C+.

Submitting your OET as evidence

If you’re submitting an OET certificate as part of your application, you'll need to give NMC permission to verify your results through your myOET account.

Find out how to give a verification institution access to your results on the OET website.

IELTS test format

IELS preparation tips

OET test format

OET preparation tips