NMC minimum scores for IELTS and OET
The NMC says these two tests "are the only tests we can accept". You must reach the score in each of the four skills; the NMC's accepted tests page does not set a separate overall band. Scores are valid for two years, which means the test must have been taken in the two years before the NMC assesses your complete application.
Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the NMC page before you book a test.
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 6.5 | 7 |
| OET (Nursing) | B (350+) | B (350+) | C+ (300+) | B (350+) |
Which IELTS and OET versions the NMC accepts
IELTS: the NMC accepts paper-based and computer-based IELTS Academic taken at a test centre, and IELTS Academic for UKVI. It does not accept IELTS Online, the IELTS Indicator test or IELTS One Skill Retake (NMC IELTS page).
OET: the NMC accepts OET on Paper, OET on Computer and OET@Home, and you must choose the Nursing version of the test (NMC OET page).
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Combining two test sittings
If you miss a score, you can combine results from a maximum of two sittings. Both tests must be taken within 12 months of each other and no more than two years before the NMC assesses your application. You must be tested in all four skills each time, gain each required score across the two sittings, and combine tests of the same type: two IELTS or two OET, never one of each (NMC).
No score in either sitting may fall below these floors:
| Test | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (floor in both sittings) | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.5 |
| OET (floor in both sittings) | C+ (300–340) | C+ (300–340) | C (250–290) | C+ (300–340) |
Is PTE accepted by the NMC?
No. The NMC lists only IELTS Academic and OET. Besides a test, the NMC's English language section covers routes for applicants who qualified in English or have recent practice in English; those are separate pages on the NMC site and are not covered here.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do nurses need for the UK?+
IELTS Academic with at least 7 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing. The NMC does not set a separate overall band.
Is PTE accepted by the NMC?+
No. The NMC says IELTS Academic and OET are the only tests it can accept.
Can I combine two IELTS results for the NMC?+
Yes, up to two sittings taken within 12 months of each other, both no more than two years old at assessment, with no score below 6.5 (6 in writing) in either sitting. You cannot combine an IELTS with an OET.
Does the NMC accept IELTS One Skill Retake or IELTS Online?+
No. It accepts IELTS Academic at a test centre (paper or computer) and IELTS Academic for UKVI only.
How long is the result valid?+
Two years. The test must have been taken in the two years before the NMC assesses your complete application.
Keep reading
Related
- OET vs IELTS for nurses
- IELTS for the UK
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- IELTS score calculator
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 30 September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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