HCPC OET English Requirements in 2026
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates 15 allied health professions in the UK. It accepts OET for six of them: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians and speech and language therapists. This guide covers the total scores required, which professions the HCPC does not accept OET for, who qualifies for exemption, and the most efficient path to a strong Writing result.
Key takeaways
- Required score: a total of at least 1400 across the four sub-tests with none below 300 (speech and language therapists: 1800 total, none below 400).
- Professions covered: OET is accepted for six: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians and speech and language therapists. The HCPC does not accept OET for any other profession.
- Other professions: paramedics, practitioner psychologists, biomedical scientists and the rest should check the HCPC's list of accepted tests.
- IELTS alternative: 7.0 overall with at least 6.5 in each component.
- Validity: 2 years from test date at application submission.
HCPC-Regulated Professions: Is OET Accepted?
The HCPC accepts OET for six professions only. For those, it sets a total score across the four sub-tests and a minimum for each sub-test. For every other profession it does not accept OET.
| Profession | OET accepted by the HCPC | Total and minimum score | IELTS alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapist | Yes | 1400 total, no sub-test below 300 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Occupational Therapist | Yes | 1400 total, no sub-test below 300 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Radiographer (diagnostic & therapeutic) | Yes | 1400 total, no sub-test below 300 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Dietitian | Yes | 1400 total, no sub-test below 300 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Podiatrist | Yes | 1400 total, no sub-test below 300 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Speech & Language Therapist | Yes | 1800 total, no sub-test below 400 | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Paramedic | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Biomedical Scientist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Clinical Scientist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Operating Dept Practitioner | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Practitioner Psychologist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Arts Therapist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Hearing Aid Dispenser | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Orthoptist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
| Prosthetist / Orthotist | No | Not applicable. Check the HCPC list of accepted tests | 7.0 overall / 6.5 each |
Source: HCPC English language requirements (2026). Confirm current policy with the HCPC before applying.
The Required Scores at a Glance
The HCPC publishes its English language requirements on its official website. The thresholds below are the HCPC's total-score rule for the six professions that can use OET.
| Profession | Minimum total (four sub-tests) | Minimum in each sub-test |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, podiatrists, dietitians | 1400 | 300 |
| Speech and language therapists | 1800 | 400 |
Why Writing Trips Up Allied Health Applicants
In over 11,000 letters I have personally marked as lead corrector at OET Writing Correction, allied health professionals fail OET Writing for a profession-specific reason: documentation training teaches them structured assessment formats (SOAP, problem-oriented notes, outcome-measure sheets) that transfer poorly to letter genre. The clinical English is strong; the letter format is unfamiliar.
The shorthand habit
AROM, PROM, MMT, BD, TDS, abbreviated outcome scores — all documentation register. OET letter prose requires expansion to full clinical English. This single change reliably moves Genre & Style scores up a band.
Letter genre is teachable
Profession-specific letter conventions can be learned in three to five professionally corrected letters. Volume practice without expert feedback usually plateaus.
The most efficient HCPC pathway
- 1. Confirm your profession is one of the six for which the HCPC accepts OET, then sit OET aiming for your profession's total score and sub-test minimum.
- 2. If Writing falls short — get three letters professionally corrected for your specific allied health discipline.
- 3. Check the HCPC's English language requirements page before relying on results from more than one sitting.
- 4. Submit to the HCPC with a certificate dated within two years of your application.
Profession-Specific Guides
OET for Physiotherapists
Profession-specific guidance for physios preparing for HCPC registration.
OET for Occupational Therapists
OT-specific letter conventions and the discharge letter pattern that scores Grade B.
OET for Radiographers
Reporting style and referral letter format for diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers.
OET for Dietitians
Advice letter format for dietitians preparing for HCPC registration.
OET for Podiatrists
Referral letter conventions for podiatrists.
OET for Speech and Language Therapists
Profession-specific letter pattern for SLTs.
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.
- Pharmacists
- Saudi ArabiaUAEQatarKuwaitOman
HCPC OET Frequently Asked Questions
What OET score does the HCPC require?
Which professions register with the HCPC?
Can I combine OET scores for HCPC?
Does the HCPC accept IELTS instead of OET?
How recent must my OET score be?
Are there exemptions for the HCPC English requirement?
Official source: Health and Care Professions Council. Checked 10 October 2026. Regulators change their rules, so confirm on the official page before you book a test.
Stuck below Grade B on OET for HCPC registration? Dr Mariam's expert OET writing correction service marks every letter against all six OET writing criteria and returns line-by-line corrections within 24–72 hours.
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