English language skills and eligibility
Every nurse and midwife applying for registration in Australia must meet the English language skills registration standard. This page explains who needs a test, which tests are accepted and the scores required.
Checked against the official sources on 9 October 2026
Do you need to sit a test?
The standard has four pathways. Three rely on education completed in a recognised country and do not need a test. Everyone else uses the test pathway.
Combined education
At least two years of secondary school, and your nursing or midwifery qualification, both taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country.
School education
English is your main language. At least 10 years of primary and secondary school in English in a recognised country, and a qualification taught in English in any country.
Advanced education
At least six years of full-time equivalent education in English in a recognised country, including your qualification and further study at degree level, finished no more than two years before you apply.
Test pathway
Pass an accepted English language test at the required scores. This is the pathway if none of your education was in a recognised country.
The 30 recognised countries and territories
Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands.
India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates are not on the list. Nurses educated in those countries use the test pathway.
Five tests are accepted
- IELTS Academic (paper or computer, at a test centre)
- OET, any profession-specific version (paper or computer, at a test centre)
- PTE Academic (computer, at a test centre)
- TOEFL iBT (computer, at a test centre). You must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when you register.
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (paper or computer, at a test centre)
At-home and remotely supervised versions are not accepted. The National Boards state that it is not easier to achieve the required scores on one test than on another.
Minimum scores
The scores you need depend on the date you sat the test. The minimum scores changed on 23 April 2026. The Boards state that the change does not alter the level of English required.
Tests sat on or after 23 April 2026
| Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 |
| OET | Not applicable | 350 | 360 | 350 | 360 |
| PTE Academic | 63 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT | 91 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 178 | 175 | 179 | 180 | 194 |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 185 | 185 | 185 | 176 | 185 |
Tests sat on or before 22 April 2026
| Test | Overall | Listening, reading and speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 in each | 6.5 |
| OET | Not applicable | B in each | C+ |
| PTE Academic | 66 | 66 in each | 56 |
| TOEFL iBT | 94 | Listening 24, reading 24, speaking 23 | 24 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 185 | 185 in each | 176 |
If you rely on two sittings on either side of 23 April 2026, each sitting is measured against the scores for its own date.
Combining results
You can meet the standard in one sitting, or across a maximum of two sittings in a 12-month period, if:
- both sittings are with the same test provider
- you are tested in all four components each time
- you reach each required score across the two sittings
- no component in either sitting falls below the floor for that test
Floors for tests sat on or after 23 April 2026:
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| OET | 320 | 340 | 350 | 350 |
| PTE Academic | 53 | 54 | 60 | 66 |
| TOEFL iBT | 19 | 19 | 23 | 22 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 168 | 168 | 180 | 187 |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 176 | 176 | 176 | 176 |
IELTS also offers a One Skill Retake: you re-sit one component within 60 days. It does not count as an extra sitting.
How long results last
Your result must have been obtained within the two years before you lodge your application. Where you use two sittings, the two years runs from the earlier one.
An older result can still be used if, since the test, you have been either:
- continuously working in a recognised country as a registered health practitioner, or in a health, disability or aged care role where English was the main language of practice; or
- continuously enrolled in a Board-approved program of study that you started within 12 months of the test
and you apply within 12 months of finishing that work or study.
Already sat a test for a visa?
A test you sat for a skilled migration visa in the past two years can be used for registration if it meets the requirements above. You do not need to sit again.
Common questions
Is the registration requirement the same as ANMAC's?
No. ANMAC, which assesses skills for migration, publishes its own English requirement, and its published scores differ from the registration scores on this page. If you need both a skills assessment and registration, check both and meet the higher figure on every component.
Is the visa English requirement the same?
No. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English requirement for each visa. Check the requirement for your own visa on the Department's website, or ask a registered migration agent.
Can I combine results from two different tests?
No. Both sittings must be the same test with the same provider.
Which component is hardest now?
For tests sat on or after 23 April 2026, speaking carries the highest required score on PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT. Writing was the lowest threshold under the earlier scores, so older study advice may point you at the wrong component.
Do I have to keep re-testing once I am registered?
No. You do not need to re-test to stay registered.
Which test should I choose?
That is your decision. The Boards say no test is easier than another. Compare test dates, locations, cost and format, and choose the one that suits you.
How OBA helps
We can check your results against the scores and floors for the date you sat, and explain where English fits in your registration timeline. The decision on whether you meet the standard is made by the NMBA.
Sources
- Ahpra: Accepted English language tests, page reviewed 23 April 2026.
- Ahpra: English language skills and the English language skills registration standard.
- ANMAC and the Department of Home Affairs publish their own, separate English requirements for skills assessment and visas.
This page is general information, checked on 9 October 2026. Requirements, fees and dates change. The regulator's own website is the authority for your situation. OBA Nursing Academy provides education and exam preparation. It does not register nurses and does not give migration advice.