OET Exam Guide 2026: Language Test for Healthcare Professionals

The Occupational English Test (OET) is organised by the Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment Trust (CBLA), a joint venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute. The OET exam is a specialised test designed for healthcare professionals to demonstrate their language proficiency to work and study in an English-speaking country.

Administered through a global network, it focuses on 12 specific health professions, testing real-world communication skills needed in healthcare settings. The OET exam scores are accepted by 15+ international healthcare councils, including the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and more.

Global Acceptance of OET

Some of the notable councils accepting OET scores are:

• UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
• The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• The Nursing and Midwifery Councils of New Zealand

Many top Australian universities, healthcare bodies, and the Australian Border and Immigration Protection also accept the OET exam.

To score well in the OET exam, you must have a clear understanding of the test pattern and scoring system. This guide will help you learn everything about the exam, from registering and creating a strategy to ace with flying colours to using the exam score for admissions abroad.

Registered 12 Professions

Since its inception in the late 1980s, the OET exam has been a key eligibility criterion for the healthcare professions in the following 12 healthcare areas:

OET Delivery Modes: On-Paper, On-Computer, and @Home

The OET exam can be taken on paper or a computer at test centres, or remotely from home. The format and duration of the assessment tasks remain the same across all modes.

OET Exam Fees 2026

The standard OET exam fee for 2026 registration for all four sub-tests is AU $587. For candidates testing on a computer at a venue or OET@Home within the US, the fee is US $455. The application fee is the same regardless of whether you choose the computer-based test at a venue, the paper-based test (where available), or OET@Home.

OET Exam Application Fees 2026

The fee structure for the full test and individual sub-tests is as follows:

Note: The Australian Dollar (AUD) price is the globally consistent base price.

OET Exam Additional Potential Costs

Additional fees applicable depend on your management of the OET Exam booking:

• Rescheduling Fee: Varies based on how close to the test date you reschedule; it can range from approximately AU $120 to AU $200
• Cancellation Fee: A portion of the original fee is retained if you cancel your test, with the refund amount depending on how far in advance you cancel
• Re-marking Fee: If you are not satisfied with your result in a specific sub-test and request a re-mark, there is a fee of AU $120 per sub-test

All payments and refunds are made online via credit or debit card during the registration process on the official OET website (oet.com).

OET Exam Eligibility & Requirements 2026

To be eligible for the OET exam, candidates must be healthcare professionals in one of the 12 recognised fields and possess a valid identification document. The primary requirements for OET aspirants can be understood as follows:

Professional Background: Qualified healthcare professional, a recent graduate, or a student in their final year of study in one of the 12 eligible professions can apply.

Age Limit: No official upper age limit has been communicated, though candidates must be at least 18 years of age to complete the registration process.

English Proficiency: The OET exam is designed to assess English skills in a healthcare setting, so a good command of English is necessary to achieve the required scores.

Identification (ID) Proof: A valid passport is preferred. A national government-issued ID card with your photograph, full name, and date of birth may also be accepted in certain countries (driving licenses are not accepted).

Regulator-Specific Score Requirements

While the OET has general eligibility criteria, the minimum scores required for registration, study, or visa applications are determined by the specific national regulatory bodies or employers you are applying to.

Minimum Scores: Most bodies require a minimum of Grade B or 350 points in each of the four sub-tests, viz. Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Some organisations might accept a C+ or 300 points in one sub-test, such as Writing, while requiring a B in the others, such as the NMC in the UK.

Score Combining Policy: Policies on combining scores from multiple test sittings vary significantly by regulator. For example, some bodies, such as NMC UK and AHPRA Australia, allow combining scores from two sittings within six months, while others, like the ECFMG in the USA, require all minimum scores to be achieved in a single test administration.

Note: It is advisable to check the exact requirements with their target country's medical or nursing council before booking the test. You may also connect with our AECC English Exam experts to understand the basic requirements for your target country.

OET Exam Registration Process 2026

Candidates can register for the OET exam by following the steps given below:

Step 1: Click on the Book button on the official OET website (oet.com).

Step 2: Choose the exam delivery mode: OET on computer or OET on paper.

Step 3: Submit your email ID, preferred name and country.

Step 4: On the ‘About You Section’, candidates are asked to fill in the gender, date of birth, first language and legal name (Legal name should match the name on the ID submitted on test day).

Step 5: Specify the OET on the computer, specify the month and select the test option (medicine or nursing).

Step 6: Choose a location and find the test centres.

Step 7: Upload ID proof and process the payment (The OET Centre accepts Visa and MasterCard).

Step 8: Candidates will receive a confirmation email with all the relevant information about the OET exam.

OET Exam Dates & Result 2026

The OET exam is conducted mostly on Saturdays and some Fridays, and the test has frequent test dates, especially for the computer-based and OET@Home. The dates vary by location and profession, such as Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and more. Ensure to book in advance, with deadlines a week or two before the test.

Things to Know Before Booking Your OET Exam Date

• To book your OET exam date, visit the official website and find your date under ‘Book a Test’, check your profession, and choose a suitable date.
• Not all dates are open to every healthcare profession. For instance, some are Nursing/Medicine only.
• Booking deadlines close several days to weeks before the test.

The results are released within days for computer tests or a couple of weeks for paper tests. OET on Computer/@Home has faster results (days) than Paper-Based tests (weeks). It is vital to check the official OET website for precise dates and booking windows for your profession and location.

Upcoming OET Exam Dates & Result Dates 2026

OET Test Centres

OET is widely available in various countries where the test is recognised for professional registration and migration. Though the test is organised by a UK-based organisation, its test centres are located in major cities across many countries worldwide.

Countries with OET Test Centres

How to Locate and Book an OET Test Centre?

The OET testing venues and available dates change frequently. Therefore, the best way to find a test centre is to use the authorised OET booking tool on the official website. Here’s a step-by-step approach to booking a test centre for the OET exam:

Go to the Official OET Website: Use the ‘Find a test’ feature on the OET Book a Test page.

Enter Your Desired Location: Input your preferred country and city to see the nearest available venues.

Filter by Test Mode: Choose between ‘OET on Computer at a venue’ or ‘OET on Paper at a venue’. Availability varies by location.

Select a Date: The website displays all available test dates for your chosen location.

Complete Registration: Select your preferred date and click ‘Book now’ to log in or create a MyOET account and finalise your registration and payment.

OET Exam Pattern Layout 2026

Like other popular standardised language tests, such as the IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or the TOEFL exam, the OET exam comprises 4 sections that assess candidates’ language proficiency in English. Here’s what you need to know about the OET exam structure:

OET Exam Preparation Tips & Resources 2026

To achieve the required scores, a minimum of Grade B or above for global admissions, a structured preparation strategy is essential. Here are some key tips and official resources:

Understand the Test Format: Familiarise yourself with how each sub-test works, like the 40-minute Listening test with parts A, B, and C.

Use Official Materials: Access the free OET Sample Tests and practice materials available on the official OET website.

Focus on Sub-test Specific Skills:

• Practice active listening for different healthcare conversations for Part A
• Practice quick reading for detail for Reading Part B
• Practice structured letter writing using case notes for Writing

Practice Speaking with a Partner: The speaking test is a profession-specific role-play. Utilise the official Speaking Role-play Videos on OET.com to practice structured interactions.

Time Management: Practice completing all tasks within the strict time limits provided in the exam.

Seek Feedback: Consider enrolling in an OET preparation course or finding a tutor who can provide professional feedback on your writing and speaking performance.

OET Exam Score Chart & Grading Scale

For each component of the OET exam, scores are calculated separately out of 500 and converted to the OET Grading Scale. In addition to sub-test grades, certain regulatory bodies and immigration departments (such as the Australian Department of Home Affairs) now recognise an Overall OET Score, which is a numerical average of your performance across all four skills.

OET Exam Score Conversion

• Numerical Score: Each sub-test receives a score from 0-500 in 10-point increments.
• Alphabetical Grade: Numerical scores are mapped to grades (A, B, C+, C, D, or E).
• Overall Score: While the OET has historically only provided individual grades, test-takers can now request or view an overall numerical average. For Australian visa purposes (as of August 2025), an overall band score of at least 1020 is required for ‘Functional English’.
• Grade B Target: To achieve a Grade B (the gold standard for UK and Australia registration), you need at least 350 points in each sub-test.

OET Grading Scale

The OET grade conversion can be understood on the following score chart and grading scale:

OET Exam Results and Validity

The OET exam results are released 48 hours after all subtests are completed for the OET on Computer, and 5 days after for tests in India and the Philippines, and 13 days after for other regions for the OET on Paper.

Results Validity: OET results are valid for 2 years, with some regulators (like AHPRA) accepting scores older than 2 years under specific circumstances. Ensure to check with the institution you wish to join.

Official confirmation: Medical boards and councils can confirm your OET records via the OET website after you submit your application.

How to Check OET Results?

Steps to check your OET results:

• Click on myOET profile to log in.
• Select the result button on your dashboard to access the results.
• View/download/print your OET results.
• View your section-wise results under the tab 'My Test History'.

Note: Enable pop-ups on your browser if you are unable to download your results.

To conclude, global institutions use OET exam scores to evaluate candidates' ability to study and work in an English-speaking environment, regardless of their non-English-speaking country of origin. Like the IELTS, TOEFL or the PTE Academic exams, it also assesses candidates’ proficiency in speaking, listening, writing, and reading English.

Preparing for any standardised exam to study abroad can be overwhelming. But with expert guidance, the journey becomes easier. Register with AECC today for end-to-end support and ensure a smooth ride from applying to flying abroad.