What IELTS score do you need as a dental hygienist in Australia?

You can use one sitting or up to two sittings no more than 12 months apart, from the same test provider. With two sittings, each sitting must meet the overall score and no IELTS component in either sitting can be below 6.5. IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted and does not count as an extra sitting, but two sittings plus a retake must all fall within 12 months. At-home and remotely proctored tests are not accepted. All of this is on Ahpra's accepted tests page.

Results count if obtained within the two years before you lodge your application. Older results can still count if you have since been working continuously in a health, disability or aged-care role in a recognised country where English is the main language, or studying continuously in a Board-approved programme that began within 12 months of the test.

The English language skills registration standard also has three education pathways that avoid a test: combined (at least two years of secondary school plus your professional qualification, all taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country), school (English is your main language and at least 10 years of school in English in a recognised country) and advanced (at least six years of full-time-equivalent education in English in a recognised country, including degree-level study, finished no more than two years before you apply). Recognised countries include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the UK and the USA.

Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the Ahpra page before you book a test.