Professional registration

What IELTS score do radiographers need for the HCPC?

Radiographers in the UK register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). If your primary radiography qualification is not from one of its listed English-speaking countries, you need IELTS 7.0 with no element below 6.5 (Academic or General, UKVI or not, at a test centre), OET Radiography 1400 with no element below 300, or TOEFL iBT. Certificates must be under two years old.
  • Checked against official sources · 14 October 2026
  • 3 sections
  • IELTS

HCPC scores for radiographers

From the HCPC's English language proficiency page (page updated 13 June 2025). Radiographers use the same IELTS and TOEFL scores as every HCPC profession except speech and language therapists; our full HCPC guide covers the other professions.

TestRadiographers' minimumNotes
IELTS Academic or General Training7.0 overall, no element below 6.5UKVI and non-UKVI versions; test centre only, not at home
OET (Radiography test)1400 total, no element below 300Test centre only
TOEFL iBT, tests before 21 January 2026100/120Not accepted if taken in the UK; no combined or MyBest scores
TOEFL iBT, tests on or after 21 January 2026Overall 5; reading 4.5, listening 5, writing 4.5, speaking 5Not accepted if taken in the UK
PTE AcademicNot listedThe HCPC accepts only IELTS, TOEFL iBT and OET

Retakes and validity

The certificate must be no more than two years old when the HCPC receives your application. IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted if the retake is done within six months of the original test and the retake result appears on the test report alongside the original results; it stays valid for the same two-year period as the original.

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When you do not need a test

You do not need a test if the qualification that first let you practise came from a country on the HCPC's qualifying list, which includes Australia, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand and the USA among others. Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the HCPC page before you book a test.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do radiographers need in the UK?+

IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5, Academic or General Training, taken at a test centre.

Is OET accepted for radiographers by the HCPC?+

Yes, the Radiography OET test with at least 1400 in total and no element below 300.

Does the HCPC accept PTE for radiographers?+

No. The HCPC accepts certificates from IELTS, TOEFL iBT and OET only.

Does the HCPC accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+

Yes, if the retake is within six months of the original test and shown on the same test report.

Do I need IELTS UKVI for HCPC registration?+

No. The HCPC accepts both UKVI and non-UKVI versions of IELTS. Your visa may have its own rules.

Keep reading

Related

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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