The rule for nurses in Canada
Canadian nursing requirements depend on the province. The CNRC recommendation is B in Listening and Speaking and C+ in Reading and Writing, but Ontario’s CNO sets Listening 350, Reading 330, Writing 320 and Speaking 350 in one complete sitting. This page uses the Ontario numbers for the scored example, and identifies the national recommendation separately. Do not treat a CNRC recommendation as a decision by every provincial regulator. Confirm the province before selecting your test date or sending results.
| Requirement | Ontario CNO; not a Canada-wide requirement |
|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) |
| Reading | 330 (C+) |
| Writing | 320 (C+) |
| Speaking | 350 (B) |
| One sitting / combining | Ontario CNO: one complete sitting. |
| Validity | Ontario CNO: results no older than two years; sent directly by OET. |
| OET@Home accepted? | Not confirmed for CNO; ask the provincial regulator. |
| Profession version | Take the Nursing version. |
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Official rule ↗
What to aim for in practice
For an Ontario application, Reading 300 and Writing 300 meet the CNRC recommendation but remain below CNO’s published numbers. Practise scanning a clinical protocol for Reading and producing a concise Nursing handover for Writing. Keep all four results from the same complete sitting together for CNO. If your destination is another province, replace this target profile with that regulator’s confirmed rule before interpreting an OETAce estimate.
| Skill | Official component target / floor | OETAce conservative practice guide |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 350 (B) | 32/42 gives an estimated 350–370 |
| Reading | 330 (C+) | 30/42 gives an estimated 330–350 |
These raw-mark ranges use the same estimate as our test marker. They are a study aid, not an official OET conversion or registration decision. Part A alone cannot predict a score for a full 42-question test. Review Writing and Speaking feedback separately.
Matching Nursing practice
Nursing guide and sample tasks · Nurses role-play cards · Sample letter task
Speaking cards
- Post-operative pain management Surgical ward
- Community visit: patient removing compression bandages Patient's home (community nursing visit)
- Bronchiolitis: father wants antibiotics and to take his baby home Paediatric ward
Writing case notes
- Discharge to the community nursing service: new insulin and diabetic foot ulcer discharge letter
- Transfer to residential aged care after a stroke: dysphagia and pressure injury transfer letter
- Referral to pulmonary rehabilitation after a COPD admission referral letter
Free full Listening test · Free Reading Part A · Practice plans and prices
Questions candidates ask
What OET score do nurses need in Canada?
Ontario CNO: nurses need Listening 350 (B), Reading 330 (C+), Writing 320 (C+) and Speaking 350 (B), all in one complete sitting; other Canadian provinces set their own rules.
Can nurses combine OET sittings for Canada?
Ontario CNO: one complete sitting.
How long are OET results valid for nurses in Canada?
Ontario CNO: results no older than two years; sent directly by OET.
Other destinations for nurses: Australia, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, US, UAE, Malta.
Sources
Last checked 22 Oct 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
OETAce is an independent practice site. OET is a registered trademark of Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA); we are not affiliated with or endorsed by CBLA. All practice material here is original.