What IELTS score do midwives need for the UK (NMC)?

IELTS: paper or computer IELTS Academic at a test centre and IELTS Academic for UKVI are accepted; IELTS Online, the IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not (NMC IELTS page). OET on Paper, OET on Computer and OET@Home are all accepted.

You can combine two sittings of the same test, taken within 12 months of each other and no more than two years before the NMC assesses your complete application, if you were tested in all four skills each time. Across the two you need each required score once. In both sittings no IELTS score may fall below 6.5 (6 in writing), and no OET score below C+ (C in writing). You cannot combine an IELTS with an OET.

The NMC's English language requirements section also lists two other evidence types. 'Qualified in English' covers an NMC-approved programme, or a pre-registration qualification whose transcript shows at least half your time interacting with patients and others, at least 75% of it in English. 'Recent practice in English' needs at least one year of registered practice within the last two years in a country where English is a majority spoken language, where you passed an English assessment to register.

If, after using the combining option, you narrowly miss the score in only one skill, the NMC says supporting information from your current UK employer may help, depending on your circumstances. Visa rules are not stated by the NMC on these pages.

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