What IELTS score do doctors need for the Medical Council of New Zealand?

Results are accepted from one sitting, or a maximum of two sittings in a 12-month period if you were tested in all four components each time and reach the minimums across the two (MCNZ policy).

The Council also accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake. It is not counted as an extra sitting, but if you rely on two sittings plus a One Skill Retake, all three must be completed within 12 months.

Results are valid within two years of an application for registration, or two years of the NZREX Clinical date for a new candidate. Repeat NZREX Clinical candidates do not have to re-sit IELTS or OET for up to five years of the exam date if, since their last NZREX Clinical, they have lived continuously in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Ireland, the US, English-speaking Canada or South Africa.

IELTS and OET are two of eight options in the MCNZ policy. Others include a primary medical qualification from a New Zealand medical school; speaking English as a first language with an acceptable medical degree from Australia, the UK, Ireland, the US, or a Canadian or South African school taught solely in English; at least two years' work as a registered doctor where English was the first language, within the last five, with two referees; and, for the provisional general examinations pathway, passing NZREX Clinical or PLAB Parts 1 and 2 within the last five years.

Applications sent without evidence of meeting one of the options are treated as incomplete. For visa-side IELTS rules see IELTS for New Zealand.