OET score for AHPRA nursing and midwifery registration (2026)
If you sit OET on or after 23 April 2026, AHPRA and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia need at least 350 in Listening, 360 in Reading, 350 in Writing and 360 in Speaking, from a paper or test-venue computer sitting, not OET@Home.
Minimum OET scores
0–500 per sub-testThe same English standard applies to all AHPRA national boards. Writing went up from C+ (300) to 350 for sittings from 23 April 2026, and Reading and Speaking need 360, not 350.
The rules around the lines
- Lines apply
- For OET sittings on or after 23 April 2026.
- Combining sittings
- Up to two sittings within 12 months can be combined. You must sit all four sub-tests each time, and neither sitting can go below Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350 or Speaking 350. Results from a different English test can't be mixed in.
- OET@Home
- Not accepted. Paper-based tests and computer tests at a test venue are accepted; the boards have accepted the remotely delivered Speaking part of a venue computer test.
- Validity
- 2 years. If you combine two sittings, the 2 years run from the earlier one.
- Single sub-test resit
- AHPRA lists IELTS One Skill Retake as the only single-skill resit it accepts, so an OET single sub-test resit won't count.
- Version
- Take the Nursing version. OET has no separate midwifery version, so midwives sit Nursing too.
What changed
- 23 Apr 2026
Letter grades replaced by numeric lines: Listening 350, Reading 360, Writing 350, Speaking 360. Writing is back above C+, and Reading and Speaking now need 360. Source
- 18 Mar 2025
Writing had been lowered from B to C+. That rule now applies only to sittings on or before 22 April 2026. Source
- Earlier rule
Older rule. Sittings on or before 22 April 2026: grade B in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ in Writing; when combining two sittings, no sub-test below C+. Source
Questions candidates ask
I sat OET before 23 April 2026. Which rule applies to me?
The older rule: grade B (350+) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ (300+) in Writing. The new numeric lines apply to sittings on or after 23 April 2026. Your result still has to be within the 2-year validity window when you apply.
Can I combine two OET results for AHPRA?
Yes, up to two sittings within 12 months, with all four sub-tests taken each time. Neither sitting can fall below Listening 320, Reading 340, Writing 350 or Speaking 350. Because the Writing floor equals the Writing line, Writing has to reach 350 in both sittings you use.
Does AHPRA accept OET@Home?
No. Book a paper-based test or a computer test at a test venue. If you're unsure which format you booked, check your booking confirmation before the test day.
I read that Australia only accepts in-person OET from 13 July 2026. Is that right?
13 July 2026 is when New Zealand's immigration service (INZ) started requiring all four sub-tests in person. On 21 October 2026 we could not find that rule on AHPRA's page, which still accepts venue computer tests with the Speaking part delivered remotely. Check AHPRA's page before you book.
Is the AHPRA line the same as the Proficient English line for a visa?
No. Home Affairs' Proficient English needs Writing 380, higher than AHPRA's 350. See the Australian migration English page if you also want visa points.
Sources
- AHPRA: Accepted English language tests official
- OET news: AHPRA changes English language requirements (2025) official
Last checked 21 Oct 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.