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United Kingdom · English test

OET for nurses

Nurses sit OET Nursing, the version of the Occupational English Test (OET) with a nursing letter in Writing and nursing role plays in Speaking. Listening and Reading are the same as for every profession. Every paper and computer date in OET’s 2026 calendar offers Nursing. OET for nurses is accepted for registration in the UK, Australia and Ireland, and each regulator sets its own grades.

  • Every dateNursing in OET’s 2026 calendar
  • 5Free paper sample tests for Nursing
  • One sittingWhat Ireland’s nursing board accepts
Where to study

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

What’s different in the OET test for nurses?

Only Writing and Speaking change. In Writing you write a letter from nursing case notes, for example a referral or a discharge letter. In Speaking the interlocutor plays a patient, relative or carer in nursing scenarios.

OET has five free paper sample tests for Nursing, plus computer versions.

OET writing samples →OET sample exam packs →OET exam dates →

OET for nurses in Ireland

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) accepts OET Nursing with:

  • grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking
  • grade C+ in Writing
  • all of it from one test: it doesn’t accept combined results
  • a result less than two years old

You give the NMBI your 9-digit OET candidate number so it can check your scores. For online applications it asks for the English evidence at the registration stage, after your qualification has been recognised.

OET for nurses in the UK and Australia

The Nursing and Midwifery Council asks all applicants to sit OET Nursing, and lets you combine two sittings. In Australia, the Nursing and Midwifery Board uses the same OET scores as the other National Boards, which changed on 23 April 2026. Each has its own page here with the grades.

OET in the UK →OET in Australia →

Preparing for OET Nursing

Start with OET’s Nursing sample tests and the free Writing and Speaking guides. Several partner courses are written for nurses, such as Reach OET B Nursing from Specialist Language Courses and E2Language’s course for nurses; prices are on the study options page.

OET preparation options →
Sources: OET · NMBI · NMC and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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Sub-tests

ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

Who accepts OET

OET in the UKOET in AustraliaOET for nursesOET Medicine