OET Exam for Nurses 2024: Eligibility, Exam Dates & Fees

If you are someone who is interested in studying or working in the healthcare profession, the OET Exam is for you! Do you know OET, or the Occupational English Test, is the only global English assessment test designed and developed specifically for healthcare professionals? 

I have encountered several aspiring nurses who wish to chart their nursing careers abroad. The OET exam for nurses is critical for everyone looking to work as a nurse at major organizations in English-speaking countries, such as the National Health Services in the UK. 

Clearing an OET exam proves that  you have the right skills needed to work in English-speaking hospitals and clinics. Here, I have covered all the key details about the OET exam for nurses. 

What is OET Exam?

The Occupational English Test (OET) assesses the English language proficiency of healthcare professionals by using questions based on relevant medical situations. Thus, you will be more confident when you attempt the test.

Attempting this exam can be important in pursuing your nursing education abroad.

Why Choose OET as Nursing Exam to go Abroad?

Some of the reasons why you should choose to take OET are:

1. The Occupational English Test (OET) is the preferred English language proficiency exam for healthcare professionals. It is uniquely tailored for medical practitioners and focuses on language skills crucial for effective communication in medical settings.
2. The OET exam for nurses is recognized by healthcare regulators and immigration authorities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
3. Preparing for OET will equip you with not only language skills but also a deeper understanding of medical terminology and communication strategies that are relevant to your future career. 
4. The availability of free online resources will certainly help you to prepare well for the OET exam. 

OET 2024 Eligibility for Nurses

Though there is no age limit for the OET exam, you should be above 18  to take the test. Moreover, you should hold a nursing qualification or be a nursing student close to graduation.

If you are a nurse, you may be required to obtain a minimum score of 350 out of 500 to become an accredited nurse in a foreign country. However, remember to check the official website for precise score requirements based on your destination.

To register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council in the UK, you need to achieve at least 350, while in the USA, each state's nursing board requires a different score.

Who Should Take OET Exam

OET exam has been designed explicitly for 12 healthcare professions as mentioned below:

1. Occupational Therapy
2. Dentistry
3. Nursing
4. Radiography
5. Veterinary Science
6. Medicine
7. Speech Pathology
8. Physiotherapy
9. Dietetics
10. Podiatry
11. Pharmacy, and
12. Optometry

Which Countries Accept OET Exam for Nurses?

OET is recognized by several government authorities, such as the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand, for various visa categories. Additionally, doctors and nurses in the UK applying for a Tier 2 General visa don’t have to appear for another English test.

The exam is accepted in numerous countries, such as:

• Australia
• Canada
• Egypt
• Ireland
• Maldives
• Malta
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Spain
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• United Arab Emirates, and
• United States of America 

Exam Details for OET Exam for Nurses

The OET exam has four sections- listening, reading, writing, and speaking. All sub-tests have their designated timeline, and it is important to clear each sub-test separately.

In the OET exam for nurses, there is no one overall grade; you get a separate grade for individual sub-tests on a scale of 0-500 in a ten-point increment.

Furthermore, the numerical scores are mapped to a different letter grade, with A being the highest and E being the lowest for each sub-test.

OET Exam Fees

Candidates appearing for the full OET Test (four sub-tests including Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) have to pay a fee of AU$ 587(INR32,617) or US$ 455(INR37,976) The US fee is only for people taking the computer-based exam in the US.  

There is also an option for single sub-tests, and they can be booked at lesser costs for OET on Paper at a venue.

OET Exam Syllabus for Nurses

As already discussed, the OET test assesses the English skills of healthcare professionals. The test is divided into 4 subtests, and each subtest in the OET exam has different content and format.

You can prepare for the exam with OET books for nurses, online resources, mock tests, etc. The OET official website also provides various preparatory materials like the Official OET Preparation Nursing book, sample tests, free master classes, preparation articles, and more.

Below is the list of the OET subtests and their exam syllabus for nurses for each sub-test to give you a better idea.

Listening Section

The exam is approximately 40 minutes long, with three parts and 42 questions.

• Part A consists of consultation extracts (5 minutes each). You have to  listen to two recorded health professional-patient consultations and complete the health professional’s notes accordingly.
• Part B has six short workplace extracts (1 minute each) and one multiple-choice question for each extract.  
• Part C is about two presentation or interview extracts (about 5 minutes each with six multiple-choice questions for each extract.

Reading Section

The reading Section is 60 months long, contains 3 parts, and has 42 questions. It contains topics of generic healthcare interest accessible to candidates across all professions.

• Part A consists of an expeditious reading task of 15 minutes. Here you have to read four short texts related to a single healthcare topic and answer 20 matching, sentence completion, and short answer questions.
• Part B comprises short workplace extracts. You have to read six extracts and answer one multiple-choice question for each extract.
• Part C contains longer articles. You have to read two articles typical of the types of texts healthcare professionals read and answer eight multiple-choice questions for each text.

Timing for Parts B and C is combined and is 45 minutes.

Writing Section

This section includes a single 45-minute writing task based on the demands of a specific profession. One can prepare by writing referral letters, letters of transfer, letters of discharge, etc.

It is marked independently by a minimum of two trained assessors on six main criteria: purpose, content, conciseness & clarity, genre & style, organization & layout, and language.

Speaking Section

The time allotted for this sub-test is 20 minutes, and it uses material specific to your profession to assess your speaking communication skills. There are two role-play tasks for each profession based on typical workplace situations.

For each role-play, there are three minutes to read the role-play card and five minutes to role-play the task points. You will play the part of your professional role and the other dialogist will act as a patient/ client/ patient’s relative. 

OET Exam 2024 Pattern for Nurses

The OET exam pattern for 2024 is:

OET Exam Pattern/Subsection	Test Duration	Description
Listening	40 minutes	Three parts and 42 questions
Reading	60 minutes	Three parts and 42 questions.
Writing	45 minutes	Single 45-minute writing task
Speaking	20 minutes	Two role-play tasks

How to Register for OET Exam for Nurses

OET exam can be taken in multiple ways: OET on Paper at a venue, OET on a Computer at a venue, or OET at Home. To register for the OET exam, you have to:

1. Go to the OET official website and click the ‘Book a Test’ tab.
2. Select the location and venue where you want to take the exam. You can search for the nearest location by entering the city name.
3. Click on the ‘Book Now’ option. It will redirect you to the booking portal.
4. Log in to the booking portal and click the ‘Apply for the Test’ tab. If you are a new user, you must first complete the registration process by entering the required details. 
5. Select the time, location, and profession for which you want to take the OET exam.
6. Proceed to checkout and enter the payment details to complete your test booking.

OET Exam 2024 Preparation Tips for Nurses

The OET exam, like any other language proficiency test, requires you to have a good command of the English language. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Decide When to Take the Exam:

•   Consider your schedule, study habits, and other commitments.
•   Choose a date that allows sufficient preparation time.
•   Register for the exam well in advance.

2. Thoroughly Read the Syllabus:

• Understand the content areas covered by the exam.
• Identify key topics and subtopics.
• Pay attention to any specific instructions or guidelines.

3. Identify Your Weak Points:

• Take practice tests or diagnostic quizzes.
• Analyze areas where you struggle.
• Allocate more study time to these topics.

4. Start Early:

• Begin your preparation well ahead of the exam date.
• Create a study schedule and stick to it.
• Consistent effort over time yields better results.

5. Focus on Your Strengths:

• While addressing weaknesses, don't neglect your strengths.
• Build upon what you already know.
• Leverage your strong areas to boost overall performance.

6. Be Persistent:

• Stay motivated throughout your preparation.
• Celebrate small victories along the way.
• Consistent effort and persistence lead to success.

OET Latest Information: 2024 Exam Dates

Here are the test dates for the OET exam for nurses:

Exam Date	Result Date
16 Dec 2023	16 Jan 2024
13 Jan 2024	31 Jan 2024
27 Jan 2024	13 Feb 2024
10 Feb 2024	27 Feb 2024
14 Feb 2024	12 Mar 2024
09 Mar 2024	27 Mar 2024
23 Mar 2024	12 Apr 2024
06 Apr 2024	23 Apr 2024
20 Apr 2024	08 May 2024
04 May 2024	21 May 2024
18 May 2024	04 Jun 2024
01 Jun 2024	19 Jun 2024

OET Exam 2024 Results

Here’s what you need to know about the results of the OET exam: 

Test Dates	Booking Window	Results Published	Professions Available
22 Jun 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Monday, 27 May 2024	Tuesday, 09 July 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
06 Jul 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 12 June 2024	Tuesday, 23 July 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography.
20 Jul 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 26 June 2024	Tuesday, 06 August 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
03 Aug 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 10 July 2024	Tuesday, 20 August 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, Veterinary Science.
17 Aug 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 24 July 2024	Tuesday, 03 September 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
31 Aug 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 07 August 2024	Tuesday, 17 September 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography.
14 Sep 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 21 August 2024	Tuesday, 01 October 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
28 Sep 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 04 September 2024	Tuesday, 15 October 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, Veterinary Science.
12 Oct 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 18 September 2024	Tuesday, 29 October 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
26 Oct 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 02 October 2024	Wednesday, 13 November 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography.
09 Nov 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 16 October 2024	Tuesday, 26 November 2024	Nursing, Medicine.
23 Nov 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Monday, 28 October 2024	Tuesday, 10 December 2024	Nursing, Medicine, Dentistry, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology, Veterinary Science.
07 Dec 2024	Friday, 25 August 2023 - 12 pm Wednesday, 13 November 2024	Tuesday, 24 December 2024	Nursing, Medicine.