SWRB test requirements
From the SWRB's overseas qualifications page and its English Language Competence policy statement (last reviewed February 2024, minor revision June 2024). The policy says the IELTS Academic module is the only test-based evidence accepted.
| Test | SWRB minimum | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (paper or computer at a test centre) | 7 overall and 7 in each of reading, listening, speaking and writing | Completed within two years before you start your application |
| IELTS One Skill Retake | Accepted | Within 60 days of the first sitting |
| Two IELTS sittings combined | 7 in each section across the two | Second test within six months; no section below 6.5 in either |
| IELTS Online, IELTS General Training | Not accepted | IELTS Online is excluded by name; only Academic is listed |
| PTE, OET, TOEFL | Not accepted | IELTS Academic is the only accepted test |
Education and registration evidence instead of IELTS
Education-based evidence: the qualification that led to your social work registration was solely taught and examined in English in an approved jurisdiction: Australia (outside the Australian pathway), Canada (except Quebec), England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa or the USA.
Registration-based evidence: you are currently registered as a social worker in England, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, were registered there for at least one year in the past five, and either English is your first language or an English test was needed for that registration.
If you missed 7 by 0.5 in only one section after using both the two-sitting and One Skill Retake options, the Board may accept letters from at least two placement or work supervisors confirming your English.
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Applicants with a social work qualification accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) are automatically accepted as having sufficient English under a mutual recognition agreement, and do not submit evidence. Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the SWRB page before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do social workers need for New Zealand?+
IELTS Academic with 7 overall and at least 7 in each of reading, listening, speaking and writing.
Does the SWRB accept IELTS Online?+
No. You must sit IELTS on paper or computer at an IELTS test centre.
Can I combine two IELTS results for the SWRB?+
Yes, if the second test is within six months of the first, you reach 7 in each section across the two, and no section is below 6.5 in either.
Does the SWRB accept PTE or OET?+
No. IELTS Academic is the only test-based evidence the Board accepts.
I studied social work in the UK. Do I need IELTS?+
Usually not. A qualification taught and examined solely in English in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland counts as education-based evidence.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for social workers in Australia
- IELTS for social workers in Canada
- IELTS for the NZ Skilled Migrant visa
- Free IELTS Academic 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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