· 6 min read
OET vs IELTS for UK Nurses: NMC Scores
By Language Lab editorial team
The NMC accepts two English tests: IELTS Academic 7, 7, 6.5, 7 or OET B, B, C+, B, valid two years, two sittings combinable within 12 months. Which to take.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council accepts two English tests as evidence for registration: IELTS Academic and the Occupational English Test, the OET. For IELTS Academic you need 7 in listening, 7 in reading, 6.5 in writing and 7 in speaking. For the OET you need grade B (350 or above) in listening, reading and speaking and C+ (300 or above) in writing. Scores are valid for two years from the test date when the NMC assesses your complete application. If you miss a score, you can combine two sittings of the same test, IELTS with IELTS or OET with OET, provided the test dates are within 12 months of each other, both are within two years, you were tested in all four domains both times, and you meet the minimum in every domain across the two sittings.
The scores side by side
| Domain | IELTS Academic | OET |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 7 | B (350 or above) |
| Reading | 7 | B (350 or above) |
| Writing | 6.5 | C+ (300 or above) |
| Speaking | 7 | B (350 or above) |
Both tests give writing a little slack: 6.5 rather than 7 on IELTS, C+ rather than B on OET. Everything else must be at the full mark. The NMC says it is not looking to accept any other tests at the moment and will update its site if that changes.
Which test to choose
- OET is a healthcare test: the reading passages, listening recordings and writing task (a referral or discharge letter) use clinical material you already know. Many nurses find the writing task easier to score on than an IELTS essay.
- IELTS Academic is general academic English: essays and graphs, no clinical content, but far more test centres and dates, and a result that other employers and visas also recognise.
- The OET also comes on paper, on computer and as OET at home, all accepted by the NMC.
Combining two sittings
If you narrowly miss a domain, you do not have to clear every score in one sitting. The NMC lets you combine scores across two sittings of the same test. The rules: test dates within 12 months of each other; both tests taken no more than two years before the NMC reviews your complete application; tested in all four domains at both sittings; the minimum score met in every domain across the two sittings; and no mixing of an IELTS with an OET. The NMC's test-combining calculator checks the result.
Validity
Language test scores are valid for two years. The clock runs from the test date to the day the NMC assesses your complete application, so a test taken early in a long recruitment process can expire before your file is reviewed. Time the test to the application, not to the job offer.
If you narrowly miss
The NMC may accept supporting evidence from a UK employer where you narrowly miss a score and have worked in an unregulated role in a UK health or care setting for at least 12 months, full time or part-time equivalent, when you apply. It is supporting information, not a replacement for the test.
Frequently asked
What IELTS score does the NMC require?
IELTS Academic: 7 in listening, reading and speaking, and 6.5 in writing.
What OET grade does the NMC require?
B (350 or above) in listening, reading and speaking, and C+ (300 or above) in writing.
Can I combine two test sittings?
Yes, two sittings of the same test within 12 months of each other, both within two years of the NMC's assessment, tested in all four domains each time, meeting every minimum across the two.
Can I combine an IELTS with an OET?
No. Only tests of the same type can be combined.
How long are my scores valid?
Two years from the test date to the date the NMC assesses your complete application.
Checked against the NMC's accepted English language tests, IELTS Academic and OET pages on 3 November 2026.
