How is OET used for nurses and doctors in the USA?

TruMerit does not accept at-home versions of English tests, so OET@Home will not count (TruMerit). You may be exempt if your entry-level professional education was in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Ireland or the United States and English was the language of instruction, including textbooks. For VisaScreen renewal only, 27 months of US employment in the profession can also exempt you.

OET says it is accepted by more than 40 state nursing boards and tells nurses to check their state's Board of Nursing website (OET USA). State licensing scores can differ from VisaScreen's.

To meet ECFMG's clinical and communication skills requirements, international medical graduates must satisfy an ECFMG Pathway, which includes a satisfactory OET Medicine score (or have a valid pass on the former USMLE Step 2 CS) (ECFMG). ECFMG Certification is required for ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs.

The passing requirement is 350 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 300 in Writing in one test administration (ECFMG). If you miss any sub-test, you must retake all four and pass them in a single administration. There is no limit on retakes. For 2027 Pathways, the score must be achieved on or after January 1, 2025. ECFMG says all Pathways applicants must meet this, regardless of native language or citizenship.

OET on paper and on computer are available at venues worldwide, including the US. OET@Home is only for applicants with no physical test venue in their country (ECFMG). For the 2027 Match, ECFMG advises testing on or before the last scheduled test date in December 2026.

ECFMG says OET Medicine results typically reach you about 10 business days after the test. Passing results go to ECFMG electronically if you gave your ID when booking; from May 14, 2026 you must give OET your MyIntealth ID (not your USMLE ID) for release. Allow three business days for your Pathways application to update.

Nurses can compare routes in IELTS for nurses in the USA; doctors can read IELTS for doctors in the USA. VisaScreen also accepts PTE Academic, which you can try in a free PTE mock test.