OET vs IELTS for nurses in Australia: visa and registration scores

Registration and visa are separate checks

AHPRA's National Boards set the English standard for registration. Home Affairs sets the English criterion for the visa through the Migration Regulations and its instruments. AHPRA says the tests it accepts are also used by Home Affairs, but its scores, sitting rules and validity period are its own. Meeting one doesn't automatically meet the other.

AHPRA's scores from 23 April 2026

AHPRA accepts five tests. For tests taken on or after 23 April 2026:

• OET: 350 listening, 360 reading, 350 writing, 360 speaking.
• IELTS Academic: 7 overall, with 7 listening, 7 reading, 6.5 writing and 7 speaking.
• PTE Academic: 63 overall, with 58 listening, 59 reading, 60 writing and 76 speaking.
• TOEFL iBT: 91 overall, with 22 listening, 22 reading, 23 writing and 24 speaking.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced: 178 overall, with 175/179/180/194; or C2 Proficiency: 185 overall, with 185/185/176/185.

For tests taken on or before 22 April 2026 the old minimums apply: OET B in listening, reading and speaking and C+ in writing; IELTS Academic 7 overall with 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing; PTE Academic 66 overall with 66 in listening, reading and speaking and 56 in writing; TOEFL iBT 94 total with 24/24/24/23; Cambridge 185 overall with 185 in listening, reading and speaking and 176 in writing.

IELTS General Training isn't on AHPRA's list.

Sittings and retakes for registration

AHPRA accepts results from one sitting, or from two sittings no more than 12 months apart, if both meet its rules and no component in either sitting falls below a floor. For tests from 23 April 2026 those floors are 320/340/350/350 for OET and, for IELTS, 6.5 in any component. Results from different test providers can't be combined.

AHPRA accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, and says retakes aren't available for the other tests. Test results are generally valid for two years before you lodge your registration application, with exceptions for people who have kept working as a health practitioner in a recognised country or studying in an approved program.

Lining up the numbers

Counting the published lines side by side:

• OET: a result at AHPRA's current standard (350/360/350/360) clears competent English for the visa. It also meets proficient English in listening, reading and speaking, but proficient writing is 380, above AHPRA's 350.
• IELTS: a result at AHPRA's standard (7, 7, 6.5, 7) clears competent English. Proficient English needs 7 in writing too, so a 6.5 writing score meets registration and competent English but not proficient.
• 482: the 482's English scores (OET 220/240/200/270, IELTS 5 in each skill) are below both AHPRA lines.

What each test covers

• OET was developed for health professionals and uses healthcare tasks. AHPRA accepts any profession-specific OET test, and an OET test for another registered profession where OET hasn't built one for yours. Home Affairs says OET doesn't print an overall score; contact OET if a visa needs one.
• IELTS is a general English test. IELTS says its Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. For registration only IELTS Academic counts; for visas, Academic and General Training both do.

At-home versions

Home Affairs doesn't accept OET@Home or IELTS Online for visas. AHPRA doesn't accept at-home or remote-proctored versions either, except that the OET computer-based test taken at a test centre has one remote-proctored element AHPRA has assessed as acceptable.

How long results last

For visas, competent, proficient and superior English need a test within 3 years before the invitation or application; the 485 needs 1 year and the 500 2 years. For AHPRA, results are generally valid for two years before you apply for registration. AHPRA also says that if you sat an accepted test for a skilled migration visa in the past two years and met its standard, you can use those results for registration.

Can I use OET for the visa and IELTS for registration, or the other way round?

Yes, as long as each result meets the body you give it to. Home Affairs and AHPRA each accept OET and IELTS (AHPRA: IELTS Academic only), with their own scores.

Is OET or IELTS easier for nurses?

AHPRA says its scores are benchmarked to equivalent levels and that it is not easier to reach them on one test than another. The practical differences are format, retake options and which skill lines you're closest to.

Does an OET result that meets AHPRA's standard also meet the visa?

It clears competent English (290/310/290/330) in every skill. For proficient English (10 points), writing has to be 380, which is above AHPRA's 350.

Does IELTS 7 with 6.5 in writing give me proficient English?

No. It meets AHPRA's standard and competent English for the visa, but proficient English needs at least 7 in all four skills.

Is IELTS General Training accepted for nursing registration?

No. AHPRA's list includes IELTS Academic only. General Training is accepted for visas.

If I'm a nurse from an English-speaking country, do I still need a test?

For the visa, citizens holding a valid Canadian, New Zealand, Irish, UK or US passport have competent English without a test, but need a test to claim English points. AHPRA's registration standard has its own rules, separate from the visa.