The Occupational English Test paradoxically owes its increasing popularity to IELTS. Many medical professionals who find getting the required score in IELTS find comfort in the fact that they can fall back on the OET, which is considered to be easier to score in than the IELTS is. In India, OET is conducted once each month. It is recommended that you register for the test at least 45 days in advance to ensure seat availability.
Owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust (CBLAT), a venture between Cambridge English Language Assessment and Box Hill Institute, the OET is recognized by healthcare bodies and councils in the UK, Australia, ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and Dubai. The number of healtchare bodies that recognize the OET is constantly on the rise.
Healthcare profession
OET has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions:
1. Dentistry,
2. Dietetics,
3. Medicine,
4. Nursing,
5. Occupational Therapy,
6. Optometry,
7. Pharmacy,
8. Physiotherapy,
9. Podiatry,
10. Radiography,
11. Speech Pathology
12. Veterinary Science
Do you need to take an English test to work or study in healthcare in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Dubai, Singapore or Namibia?
Then OET is the test for you!
By taking OET you will prove you have the right level of English plus you’ll be learning the kind of language you will need every day at work.
And, that’s not all – healthcare professionals choose OET because:
• OET uses real healthcare scenarios so you’ll feel more confident on test day.
• OET is widely recognised as proof of English proficiency for registration, study and work in the healthcare sector, as well as for visas in some countries.
• OET helps you develop language skills for success in your career – see stories about people like you.
• It’s easy to prepare for the test compare to IELTS for healthcare professsionals.
Proof of your English language skills
Below is a list of organisations that recognise OET results as proof of English language proficiency. Please check with the organisation you are applying to regarding the OET grade(s) they will accept.
FIND RECRUITERS WHO WORK WITH OET
Australia
Government
Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs recognizes OET for various visa categories including skilled migration and student visas.
Immigration SA, Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment
NSW Department of Industry
Western Australia, Department of Training and Workforce Development – Migration Services
Healthcare Boards & Councils
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
National agency responsible for the registration and accreditation of 14 health professions in Australia. Visit www.ahpra.gov.au for more information.
The following AHPRA Boards recognize OET:
• Chinese Medicine Board of Australia
• Dental Board of Australia
• Medical Board of Australia
• Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
• Occupational Therapy Board of Australia
• Optometry Board of Australia
• Paramedicine Board of Australia
• Pharmacy Board of Australia
• Physiotherapy Board of Australia
• Podiatry Board of Australia
Other Boards and Councils
• Australasian Veterinary Boards Council
• Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS)
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council
• Australian Pharmacy Council
• Australian Physiotherapy Council
• Dietitians Association of Australia
• Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and NZ)
• Sino-Australia Association of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine
• South Australian Medical Education and Training
• Speech Pathology Australia
Universities
• Australian Catholic University
• Charles Darwin University
• Curtin University
• CQ University
• Deakin University
• Edith Cowan University
• Federation University
• Flinders University
• James Cook University
• Macquarie University
• Murdoch University
• RMIT University
• Southern Cross University
• The University of Adelaide
• University of Canberra
• OUW College Australia
• University of Newcastle
• University of New England
• University of Notre Dame Australia
• University of South Australia
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of Tasmania
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• University of Wollongong
• Western Sydney University
• Victoria University
TAFEs and Higher Education Institutes
• ALACC Health College, Australia
• Australian College of Nursing
• Box Hill Institute
• Chisholm Institute
• EQUALS International (Aust) Pty Ltd
• Gordon Institute of TAFE
• Homesglen Institute
• Lawson College Australia
• Lonsdale Institute
• Perth Institute of Business and Technology
• Rhodes College
• TAFE International WA
• TAFE NSW
• TAFE Queensland
• TAFE SA
Dubai
• Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA)
• Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
Ireland
• Medical Council
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
• Dental Council of Ireland
• Institute of Technology Tralee
• CORU
A multi-profession health regulator for dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiographers and radiation therapists, speech therapists and optometrists.
• Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
• Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Namibia
• Health Professions Councils of Namibia
New Zealand
Government
Immigration New Zealand
Immigration New Zealand recognises OET for most visa categories. Candidates can find more information by visiting www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas
Healthcare Boards & Councils
• Dental Council of New Zealand
• Dietitians Board of New Zealand
• Medical Council of New Zealand
• Midwifery Council of New Zealand
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
• Nursing Council of New Zealand
• Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
• Occupational Therapy Council (Australia and NZ)
• Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of New Zealand
• Pharmacy Council of New Zealand
• Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand
• Podiatrists Board of New Zealand
• Veterinary Council of New Zealand
Universities and Education
• AGI Education Ltd
• Ara Institute of Canterbury
• EDENZ College
• Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
• NorthTec
• Otago Polytechnic
• Southern Institute of Technology
• Unitec Institute of Technology
• University of Auckland
• Universal College of Learning
• University of Otago Language Centre
• WINTEC
• Whitireia New Zealand
Singapore
• Singapore Dental Council
• Singapore Medical Council
• Singapore Pharmacy Council
• Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC)
The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) is a professional board which governs and regulates registered allied health professionals in Singapore.
• AHPC – Occupational Therapy
• AHPC – Physiotherapy
• AHPC – Speech-language Therapy
• AHPC – Diagnostic Radiography and Radiation Therapy
Spain
• CRUE
• Universidad de La Rioja
UK
Doctors, nurses and midwives in the UK are not required to take a separate English language test when applying for a Tier 2 (General) visa if they have already provided OET results as proof of English proficiency to their healthcare regulator.
• Academy of Royal Colleges
• ENT UK
• General Medical Council
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Royal College of Anaesthetists
• Royal College of Emergency Medicine
• Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
• Royal College of Opthalmologists
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Royal College of Pathologists
• Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Royal College of Physicians of London
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• UK Foundation Programme
• University of Highlands and Islands
Ukraine
• Ukrainian Council of Nursing and Midwifery
• Ukrainian Medical Council
• Ukrainian Professional Council of Public Health Services