For International Optometrists·Last updated: 10 October 2026

OET for Optometrists — AHPRA & CORU Pathway

Internationally trained optometrists pursuing Australian AHPRA or Irish CORU registration can use OET. UK-bound optometrists need IELTS: the GOC does not accept OET. For tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA requires 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking, which is above the Grade B minimum in two sub-tests. The Writing sub-test rewards plain, structured prose — not the abbreviation-dense clinical record optometrists write every day.

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Quick answer

For internationally trained optometrists, the GOC (UK) does not accept OET and takes IELTS Academic only (7.0 overall, no section below 6.0, Speaking at least 7.0). CORU (Ireland) requires Grade B (350) in three sub-tests and at least C+ (300) in one. For tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA (Australia) requires 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking. The Writing sub-test tests your ability to communicate optometric findings to a non-optometrist addressee — usually a GP or ophthalmologist — in 250 words of structured prose. Most marks are lost on Genre & Style: compressed optometric abbreviations without context.

Key takeaways for optometrists

Grades: The GOC does not accept OET (IELTS only). CORU requires Grade B (350) in three sub-tests and at least C+ (300) in one. For tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA requires 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking.
Most common letter type: Referral to ophthalmology for suspected pathology.
Top criterion lost: Genre & Style — uncontextualised abbreviations (V/A, IOP, OD/OS, refraction).
Validity: 2 years from test date.

Required OET Scores by Regulator

Regulator

Country

Required (Writing)

Combine?

GOC

United Kingdom

OET not accepted (IELTS Academic only)

Not applicable

AHPRA

Australia

350 Listening and Writing, 360 Reading and Speaking (tests from 23 Apr 2026)

Yes, 12 months

ODOB

New Zealand

Check with the regulator

CORU

Ireland

B (350) in three, C+ (300) in one

Yes — two sittings in 6 months

The Two Letter Types Optometrists Write Most

1. Ophthalmology referral

Sent to a hospital ophthalmology team or specialist for suspected pathology — glaucoma, retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, suspected malignancy. Tests urgency framing and selective findings.

Marking watch-out: Purpose — opening must convey urgency and provisional diagnosis, not visit history.

2. GP follow-up letter

Communication to the patient's GP about visual findings relevant to systemic health (diabetic retinopathy progression, hypertensive retinopathy) or ongoing management.

Marking watch-out: Genre & Style — adjust register and abbreviations for a non-optometrist addressee.

The Three Mistakes That Cost Optometrists Their Grade

Expand optometric abbreviations

Stop using V/A, IOP, OD/OS or refraction notation without context when writing to a GP. Expand on first use: 'intraocular pressure (IOP) 28 mmHg in the right eye'. Mapped criterion: Genre & Style.

Lead with urgency for pathology referrals

Stop opening with patient demographics on suspected retinal detachment or angle-closure cases. State 'I am referring this patient urgently for assessment of suspected [condition]' in sentence one. Mapped criterion: Purpose.

Select clinically relevant findings only

Stop including the full refraction sequence and every fundus observation. Include only findings that justify the referral question or shape the management. Mapped criterion: Conciseness & Clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which regulators accept OET for optometrists?+

Australian AHPRA and Ireland's CORU accept OET. The UK GOC (General Optical Council) does not: it accepts IELTS Academic only, at 7.0 overall with no section below 6.0 and Speaking at least 7.0. For Ireland, CORU requires Grade B (350) in three sub-tests and at least C+ (300) in one, with at most two sittings within six months. For tests taken from 23 April 2026, AHPRA requires 350 in Listening and Writing and 360 in Reading and Speaking, and it accepts results from two sittings within 12 months if no score is below 320 in Listening, 340 in Reading, 350 in Writing or 350 in Speaking.

What letter type do optometrists write in OET?+

Optometrists most often write a referral letter to an ophthalmologist (for suspected pathology — glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataract) or a follow-up report to a GP after disease management. Case notes are eye-care-specific, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus findings, and management history.

Why do optometrists lose marks in OET Writing?+

The most common loss is in Genre & Style — using compressed optometric abbreviations (V/A, IOP, OD/OS, +1.50DS) without context for a non-optometrist addressee. The second most common loss is hedging the urgency cue on pathology referrals where the ophthalmology team needs to triage on the opening line.

Is OET on computer suitable for optometrists?+

OET on computer suits optometrists applying to AHPRA and CORU. Check each regulator's current rules on delivery mode before you book; the GOC does not accept OET. The Writing sub-test format (250-word letter, case notes) is identical regardless of delivery mode.

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Send an optometry letter for correction

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