New Zealand Nursing English Requirements: OET and IELTS Scores

New Zealand nursing English requirements are set out plainly on one Council page, but a few details trip up applicants from Kerala every year: which IELTS version counts, how long you have to combine results, and whether a test taken online is accepted. This guide sets out what the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) asks for today, what changed in 2022, and how to plan your test around the rest of your application.

The scores the Nursing Council asks for

The Council approves two tests for internationally qualified nurses: the Occupational English Test (OET) and IELTS Academic. Its page for internationally qualified nurses sets these minimums:

Skill	OET	IELTS Academic
Reading	350	7
Listening	350	7
Speaking	350	7
Writing	300	6.5

Only the Academic version of IELTS is named, so an IELTS General Training result will not meet the requirement. Neither approved test is ranked above the other, so pick the format that gives you the best chance of reaching every score.

What changed in New Zealand nursing English requirements in 2022?

On 19 August 2022 the Council refreshed its English Language Competence policy, with effect from 12pm that day. The writing minimum became 6.5 in IELTS and 300 in OET, while reading, listening and speaking stayed at 7 and 350. The Council also published guidance on acceptable ways of testing and on three evidence pathways, which are explained below.

That 2022 change is still reflected in the scores on the Council's page today. If you read older material that quotes a higher writing score, it predates this policy.

Combining results and time limits

You do not need to achieve every score in a single sitting. The Council allows you to reach the minimums over more than one sitting, with two time limits:

• All the required scores must be achieved within 12 months of your first sitting.
• All sittings must be completed within the three years before your application to the Council.

Plan your attempts with these limits in mind. Taking a first test long before you are ready starts the 12-month clock early and can force you to begin again.

Which test formats are accepted?

Online, at-home sittings are not currently accepted. A computer-based sitting at an approved test centre is fine. For OET, that includes the computer version taken at a venue, where the speaking sub-test is hosted online. In practice:

• Accepted: OET or IELTS Academic on paper or on computer at an approved test centre.
• Not accepted: fully online, at-home versions of these tests.

Before you book, confirm with the provider that the session you choose is a centre-based test.

Other ways to show English: the evidence pathways

The test is always available, but the Council's English Language Competence Policy Guidance and its IQN page describe two other routes, used at the Council's discretion:

1. Education: you trained as a nurse in the UK, Singapore, Ireland, Canada or the USA, with both teaching and exams in English.
2. Registration: you hold current nursing registration in the UK, Ireland, Canada or the USA, and getting that registration required you to pass an English language test. The Council may ask you to prove this.

Each request is assessed individually and can take longer. If it is declined, you must pass an approved test. For most nurses trained in India, the test pathway is the one to prepare for, since an Indian nursing degree is not on the education list.

Where the English test fits in your application

The Council's IQN page directs applicants to start their application through TruMerit, the portal linked from the Council's page. English evidence is one part of a wider assessment of your qualification and registration history. The same page also lists two free online cultural competency courses, completed through Ko Awatea LEARN, that applicants must finish. Because requirements and fees can change, read the Council's current IQN page and FAQs before you begin, rather than relying on older guides.

OET or IELTS for New Zealand?

Since the Council treats the two tests the same way, decide on the basis of how you work best:

• OET uses healthcare material throughout, including a profession-specific letter (such as a referral or discharge letter) and two workplace role-plays, which many nurses find closer to ward work.
• IELTS Academic uses general academic topics and is also widely used for university admission, which helps if you might apply to study.

If you are keeping Australia open as well, note that Australia sets different scores for each test, so check both regulators before you aim for a target. Our pages on studying in New Zealand and studying in Australia cover the study side of each country.

A quick planning checklist

• Confirm you are booking OET or IELTS Academic, not General Training.
• Book a centre-based session, not an at-home test.
• Aim for 350 or 7 in reading, listening and speaking, and 300 or 6.5 in writing.
• If combining sittings, finish within 12 months of your first attempt.
• Make sure all sittings fall within three years of your application.

Medcity International Academy offers OET coaching and IELTS coaching in Kerala. If you are also considering study in New Zealand, Medcity Overseas can guide your course application; contact us through our contact page.