For International Psychologists · Last updated: 19 June 2026

OET for Psychologists: HCPC & AHPRA Writing Pathway

Internationally trained practitioner psychologists can register with the HCPC in the UK or the Psychology Board of Australia with Grade B across all four OET sub-tests. The Writing sub-test asks you to turn an assessment and formulation into 250 words a non-specialist reader can act on.

Get My Letter Corrected Try the Free Writing Checker

Quick answer

For internationally trained practitioner psychologists, Grade B (350) in each of the four OET sub-tests is accepted by HCPC (UK, registered as Practitioner Psychologist) and the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA). AHPRA lowered its OET Writing minimum from B to C+ on 18 March 2025 for the National Boards it lists; confirm the Psychology Board of Australia's current Writing minimum on its page. The Writing sub-test is a single letter, usually an assessment or referral. Most marks are lost on Genre & Style: test names and diagnostic terms left in for a reader who cannot interpret them.

Key takeaways for psychologists

Required grade: Grade B (350) in all four sub-tests is accepted by HCPC and AHPRA. AHPRA lowered its Writing minimum to C+ on 18 March 2025 for the Boards it lists; confirm the Psychology Board of Australia's figure on its page.
Most common letter type: assessment or referral letter with findings, formulation and recommendations.
Top criterion lost: Genre & Style, test names and diagnostic terms used without context.
Validity: 2 years from the test date.

Required OET Scores by Regulator

Regulator

Country

Writing

Combine?

HCPC

United Kingdom

B (350)

Yes

Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA)

Australia

B accepted; AHPRA C+ from 18 Mar 2025 (check Board)

Check Board (AHPRA: 12 months)

New Zealand Psychologists Board

New Zealand

B (350)

Yes

Always confirm the current requirement on the regulator's own site before you book. Requirements and validity windows change.

The Two Letter Types Psychologists Write Most

1. Assessment / referral letter

Sent to a GP, psychiatrist, or multidisciplinary team, setting out your assessment findings, a formulation, and recommendations for intervention or onward referral.

Marking watch-out: Genre & Style. Name a test once, then say what the result means. The reader needs the interpretation, not the instrument.

2. Transfer / discharge letter

Handing over to another psychologist or service for ongoing therapy. The addressee usually needs the formulation in brief and a clear intervention plan.

Marking watch-out: Organisation & Layout. Lead with the outcome, then structure the plan so the reader can continue care after one read.

The Three Mistakes That Cost Psychologists Their Grade

Translate your psychological terminology

Stop naming psychometric instruments and diagnostic classifications without context for a non-specialist reader. Say what the result means in plain terms. Mapped criterion: Genre & Style.

Select the content that informs the reader's decision

Stop narrating the full formulation. Choose the findings and risks that change what the addressee does next. Mapped criterion: Conciseness & Clarity.

Lead with the outcome and the recommendation

Stop opening with assessment chronology. State the finding and what you are asking the reader to do in the first sentence. Mapped criterion: Purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which regulators accept OET for psychologists? +

The UK HCPC (where the title is registered as Practitioner Psychologist), the Psychology Board of Australia through AHPRA, and the New Zealand Psychologists Board all accept OET. Grade B (350) in each of the four sub-tests is accepted. AHPRA lowered its OET Writing minimum from B to C+ on 18 March 2025 for the National Boards it lists, so check the Psychology Board of Australia's page for its current Writing minimum. AHPRA accepts results from two sittings within 12 months for those Boards; check the other regulators' pages for their sitting rules.

What letter type do psychologists write in OET? +

Usually an assessment or referral letter, sent to a GP, psychiatrist, or multidisciplinary team. Case notes commonly include the presenting problem, a risk assessment, assessment or psychometric outcomes, a formulation, and an intervention plan.

Why do psychologists lose marks in OET Writing? +

Two patterns recur. First, test names and diagnostic terms used without context for a non-specialist reader, which costs Genre & Style. Second, narrating the whole formulation instead of selecting the findings and risks the reader needs, which costs Conciseness & Clarity.

Is profession-specific practice worth it for psychologists? +

Yes. Psychological assessment, formulation, and risk documentation follow conventions that generic medical case notes do not cover. Correction from someone who knows the psychology letter genre catches the errors that actually cost the grade.

Send a psychology assessment letter for correction

Our OET writing correction service marks your letter against the six criteria, with feedback from a corrector who knows assessment, formulation, and MDT conventions. 24-hour turnaround.

Get My Letter Corrected