What Pearson says about PTE validity
On its PTE Academic page, Pearson says a score is valid for two years from the test date; after that it expires, and you need to take the test again to get a new valid score. Pearson's PTE Core FAQ gives the same two years for a PTE Core Score Report.
The two tests are used for different things. Pearson says PTE Core is accepted for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship applications, while PTE Academic is used for university study, Australian and New Zealand visas and professional registration. A valid score on the wrong test does not help.
How old can your PTE result be? By organisation
Organisations count from different moments: the day you apply, the day your application is assessed, or the day a decision is made. Each row comes from the organisation's own page, read on 6 October 2026.
| Organisation / purpose | Maximum age of PTE result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UK Visas and Immigration (PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home as a SELT) | Awarded in the 2 years before the date of your application | gov.uk |
| IRCC Canada: Express Entry / permanent residence (PTE Core) | Less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit the PR application | canada.ca |
| IRCC Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PTE Core) | Less than 2 years old when you submit the application | canada.ca |
| Australia Home Affairs: skilled visas (PTE Academic) | Achieved in the 3 years before the visa application, depending on the subclass | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Australia Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500) | Within 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level), or before the decision if requested (Streamlined Evidence level) | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Immigration New Zealand: skilled residence visas (PTE Academic) | No more than 2 years old when you apply; sat in person at a test centre | immigration.govt.nz |
| Ahpra (Australian health practitioner registration, PTE Academic) | 2 years before you lodge the registration application; older results only in listed cases of continuous practice or study in English | ahpra.gov.au |
Know your target? Check where you stand
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Take a free scored PTE mock →Australia's 2025 change and older PTE scores
Home Affairs changed its approved tests on 7 August 2025. PTE Academic keeps its name, but Home Affairs says the test and scores after that date are different, so the minimum scores changed too. A PTE result from a test taken on or before 6 August 2025 can be used until 6 August 2028 inclusive, depending on the visa. Home Affairs does not accept tests delivered completely online. See Home Affairs English language requirements.
Not every body takes PTE. The NMC accepts only IELTS Academic and OET, so a PTE score cannot be used for UK nursing or midwifery registration however recent it is.
Planning around the expiry date
The clock runs from your test date, not the date the Score Report arrives. If you are close to two years, check which moment your organisation measures: UKVI and Immigration New Zealand look at the application date, Express Entry checks both profile and application, and Ahpra looks at lodgement.
If you need a new score, a timed PTE mock test on BandLadder shows whether you are ready to book again before you pay for a retake.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a PTE score valid?+
Pearson says PTE Academic and PTE Core scores are valid for two years from the test date. After that the score expires and you need to retake the test.
Is a PTE score valid for 3 years in Australia?+
For most skilled visas, yes: Home Affairs accepts a PTE Academic score achieved in the three years before the visa application, depending on the subclass. The Student visa uses two years.
Can I use PTE for a UK visa?+
Only PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home, the Pearson tests on the UK's SELT list, and the result must have been awarded in the two years before your application.
How long is PTE Core valid for Canada PR?+
Your PTE Core result must be less than two years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit the permanent-residence application.
Does Ahpra accept PTE scores older than two years?+
Normally no. Ahpra treats results as valid for two years before you lodge, with exceptions for continuous practice or study in English set out on its accepted-tests page.
Keep reading
Related
- How long is IELTS valid?
- PTE to IELTS converter
- English test score comparison
- Free PTE mock test
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 6 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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