New Zealand Regulator Guide

NCNZ OET English Requirements for Nurses

International Nurses migrating to New Zealand must demonstrate English language competence to register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ). The Occupational English Test (OET) Nursing version is accepted. This guide details the minimum scores, combining windows, and sitting rules.

Improve Your Writing Score View Score Rules ↓

In Short

  • Scores needed: Listening 350, Reading 350, Speaking 350, Writing 300.
  • Combining rules: Allowed across 2 sittings in 12 months, provided you sat all 4 sub-tests each time and no individual score fell below 300.
  • Test delivery: Only in-person test sittings are accepted. OET@Home is not accepted.

NCNZ Score Thresholds

Sub-test Required Score OET Grade IELTS Equivalent
Listening 350 Grade B Band 7.0
Reading 350 Grade B Band 7.0
Speaking 350 Grade B Band 7.0
Writing 300 Grade C+ Band 6.5

Score Combining Guidelines

The Nursing Council of New Zealand allows candidates to combine scores from two sittings under the following terms:

  • Both sittings must be completed within a 12-month period.
  • You must take all four sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) at each sitting.
  • You must meet the required score (350 for L/R/S, 300 for W) in each sub-test across the combined sittings.
  • No individual sub-test score from either test sitting can fall below 300 (Grade C+).

"New Zealand accepts a score of 300 (Grade C+) for the Writing sub-test. However, many nursing graduates still struggle to reach this baseline due to differences in clinical register. Targeted human feedback is the fastest way to bridge the gap."

— Senior OET Assessor, WCS Writing Service

Frequently Asked Questions

What OET score does the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) require?
The NCNZ requires OET Nursing scores of at least 350 (Grade B) in Listening, Reading, and Speaking, and at least 300 (Grade C+) in Writing.
Can I combine OET scores for New Zealand nursing registration?
Yes, you can combine scores from two sittings taken within a 12-month period, provided you sit all four sub-tests in each sitting and no individual score falls below 300 (Grade C+).
Does NCNZ accept OET@Home?
No. The Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) does not accept remote OET@Home tests. Only in-person paper-based or computer-based center testing sittings are accepted.

Related OET Writing guides

Continue your preparation with these related resources.

OET Scoring Criteria →

How the 6 criteria are assessed and where most candidates lose marks.

Grade B Sample Letters →

20 worked sample letters by profession × scenario with line-by-line annotations.

Mistake Clinics by Profession →

10 profession-specific mistake clinics — wrong vs right examples per criterion.

Grade A vs B vs C Compared →

Three letters from the same case notes at three bands — what moves you up one.