Australian Registration Pathway·Last updated: 19 September 2026

AHPRA OET English Requirements in 2026

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) sets English language standards for the 15 National Boards covering nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals. This guide covers the OET scores required (Grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and C+ in Writing since March 2025), AHPRA's 12-month score-combining window, exemption pathways, and the path to the required Writing score for internationally trained candidates.

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Australian nurse studying for OET writing AHPRA registration

Key takeaways

Required score: for tests taken from 23 April 2026, 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking. Tests taken up to 22 April 2026 needed Grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and Grade C+ in Writing.
Score combining: Up to two sittings within a 12-month window, extended from six months in the revised standard.
IELTS alternative: At least 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and at least 6.5 in Writing.
Validity: 2 years from test date, applied at AHPRA application.
Exemptions: 4 pathways. Pathway C (English-medium qualifying healthcare degree in approved country) is the most common.

AHPRA OET Score Requirements

AHPRA's English language registration standard applies across the National Boards. The score requirements below are the minimums; individual Boards may set additional requirements.

Sub-test

Minimum score

IELTS equivalent

Listening

350

7.0

Reading

360

7.0

Writing

350

6.5

Speaking

360

7.0

OET minimums shown are for tests taken on or after 23 April 2026. Tests taken up to 22 April 2026 needed Grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and Grade C+ in Writing.

AHPRA Score-Combining Rules

AHPRA's score-combining window is 12 months, extended from six months in the revised standard. The longer window gives candidates more flexibility to retake a single weak sub-test.

Combining requirements

Maximum of two OET sittings combined
Sittings must be within 12 months of each other
Across the combined results you must meet the minimum in every sub-test: 350 in Listening and Writing, 360 in Reading and Speaking (tests from 23 April 2026)
No score in either sitting may be below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading, 350 in Writing or 350 in Speaking

For most candidates this means: sit OET once, identify the weak sub-test (almost always Writing), get three to five letters professionally corrected, then retake within 12 months and combine. The longer window removes much of the calendar pressure around a second sitting.

AHPRA Exemption Pathways

AHPRA recognises four exemption pathways. If any one applies, you may not need to sit OET at all. The list of recognised countries was expanded from seven to 30 nations and territories on 18 March 2025 (South Africa was removed), so check the Boards' current list before relying on a pathway.

Pathway A — Primary education in English-speaking country

Primary school, secondary school, and qualifying tertiary education completed in a recognised country, with English as the medium of instruction throughout.

Pathway B — Secondary + tertiary in English-speaking country

At least two consecutive years of secondary education plus the qualifying tertiary qualification in an approved English-speaking country, all with English as the medium of instruction.

Pathway C — English-medium qualifying tertiary qualification

Qualifying healthcare qualification (e.g. nursing degree, medical degree) completed in an approved English-speaking country with English as the medium of instruction. The most common pathway for healthcare professionals trained in the UK, Australia, NZ, Canada, US, or Ireland.

Pathway D — Recent English-medium clinical practice

Substantial recent practice (typically two years) in a majority-English-speaking country immediately preceding application. Reviewed case-by-case by the relevant National Board.

Related Guides

OET for Australian Nurses

Profession-specific guidance for AHPRA-registered nurses.

How to Improve Your OET Writing Score

Six-criteria breakdown and the patterns that hold back AHPRA candidates.

OET Writing Retake Guide

AHPRA's 12-month combining window in detail, with the 4–8 week recovery plan.

4 Annotated OET Letter Samples

Grade B and Grade C letters with per-criterion scoring.

OET vs IELTS Decision Guide

Includes the AHPRA-specific IELTS comparison (7 overall, 6.5 minimum in Writing).

How to Write an OET Letter

Live 45-minute walkthrough from case notes to Grade B letter.

Working in the Gulf?

Doctors, nurses and pharmacists in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman

The score you need depends on where you are registering, not where you work now. Pick your country and profession for the route from the Gulf.

Doctors: Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Kuwait Oman
Nurses: Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Kuwait Oman
Pharmacists: Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Kuwait Oman

AHPRA OET Frequently Asked Questions

What OET score does AHPRA require?

For OET tests taken on or after 23 April 2026, AHPRA and the National Boards require 350 in Listening, 360 in Reading, 350 in Writing and 360 in Speaking. For tests taken between 18 March 2025 and 22 April 2026 the minimums were Grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and Grade C+ in Writing. The exact standard is set in the Boards' English language skills registration standard, which applies across the professions AHPRA regulates.

Can I combine OET sittings for AHPRA?

Yes. AHPRA accepts results from a maximum of two OET sittings within a 12-month window (extended from six months in the revised standard), provided you sit all four sub-tests each time. For tests taken from 23 April 2026, no score in either sitting may be below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading, 350 in Writing or 350 in Speaking. The standard is set out in the Boards' English language skills registration standard.

Does AHPRA accept IELTS instead of OET?

Yes. AHPRA accepts IELTS Academic. The Writing requirement was lowered from 7 to 6.5 in the revised standard, so the minimums are at least 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and at least 6.5 in Writing.

How long is an OET certificate valid for AHPRA?

Two years from the date of the test, applied at the date of registration application. AHPRA, like the NMC, treats certificates older than two years as expired regardless of score.

Are there English language exemptions for AHPRA?

Yes. Practitioners who were educated in English in a recognised country may be exempt. The list of recognised countries was expanded from seven to 30 nations and territories on 18 March 2025, and South Africa was removed from it. The Boards publish the current list.

Official source: Ahpra and the National Boards. Checked 10 October 2026. Regulators change their rules, so confirm on the official page before you book a test.

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