What AIMS asks for
From AIMS's Guidelines for Skills and Qualifications Assessment (version 18.4, March 2026) for Medical Laboratory Scientist (ANZSCO 234611) and Medical Laboratory Technician (ANZSCO 311213). AIMS accepts only one test report from this list: IELTS (Academic or General Training), TOEFL, PTE Academic, OET or Cambridge C1 Advanced.
AIMS does not print its own scores. It says its requirement aligns with the Department of Home Affairs Proficient English level and sends you to the Home Affairs page for the scores, so the table shows the Home Affairs figures for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, limited to the tests AIMS accepts.
| Test accepted by AIMS | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or General Training | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 59 | 69 | 76 |
| TOEFL iBT ('Taking TOEFL for Australia') | 22 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
| OET (Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy or Veterinary Science) | 350 | 360 | 380 | 360 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 175 | 179 | 193 | 194 |
Validity, OET professions and submission
The report is valid if AIMS receives it with your skills assessment application within three years of the test date. There are no exemptions: even graduates of English-taught degrees must send a test report for the skills assessment.
PTE Academic scores must be sent online to AIMS through Pearson. OET must be taken in a profession AIMS considers relevant (Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy or Veterinary Science), and you upload a colour scan of the downloaded Statement of Results.
Home Affairs accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for eligible visas. Whether AIMS accepts a retake report or results from two sittings is not stated in its guidelines; it says it accepts one test report.
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Skills assessment is not the AIMS membership exam
AIMS states that its membership examinations cannot be used for migration. The membership exam pack has a different English rule (it exempts three years of English-medium tertiary study in Australia, Canada's English-speaking provinces, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA), but that exemption does not appear in the skills assessment guidelines. Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the AIMS page before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do medical laboratory scientists need for AIMS?+
AIMS uses the Home Affairs Proficient English level: IELTS 7 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking for tests taken from 7 August 2025.
Does AIMS accept IELTS General Training?+
Yes. The skills assessment guidelines list IELTS Academic or General Training.
Can I skip the English test if my degree was taught in English?+
Not for the skills assessment. AIMS says every applicant must provide an English test report and there are no exemptions.
How long is my IELTS result valid for AIMS?+
AIMS must receive it with your application within three years of the test date.
What PTE score does AIMS need?+
AIMS defers to Home Affairs Proficient English: PTE Academic 58 listening, 59 reading, 69 writing and 76 speaking for tests from 7 August 2025, sent online to AIMS.
Keep reading
Related
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- IELTS for the VETASSESS skills assessment
- Free IELTS General Training mock test
- All 1393 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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