As of 1st November 2017, the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) formally recognised the Occupational English Test (OET) as evidence of satisfactory English Language competence – something required by all non-EU nurses if they want to join the NMC register. But how will this affect the way health care employers recruit internationally in a practical sense?

To understand the impact let’s quickly assess the status quo. Currently nurses from the European Economic Area (EEA) don’t have to complete a formal English test if they can demonstrate alternative forms of confidence in English Language, but non-EEA nurses must pass the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at Level 7 in each category in order to apply to join the NMC register.

The benchmark of achieving IELTS Level 7 is widely regarded as quite a challenge, and the NMC have been criticised in the past for using a test that is overly academic and irrelevant to the day-today interactions of healthcare professionals. Example writing tests have included the history of elephants and how to make jam.

In contrast, the OET has been developed specifically for healthcare professionals and offers specific language scenarios depending on the career track of the individual e.g. Dentistry, Medicine, or Nursing. Just like the IELTS, individuals are marked on Writing, Listening, Speaking and Reading, but the difference is that the topics presented have a clinical context e.g. having a discussion about diabetes, or heart palpitations.

The idea is that the OET is not easier to pass, but it is a lot more relevant to the work at hand. A major advantage of the OET is that if a nurse fails to achieve the required “B” pass in a topic, they can opt to re-take only that paper (unlike the IELTS when they would need to re-take the full exam).

The alternative version of the English language test has certainly been welcomed by many who argue the IELTS exam is not a fair assessment of language skills because it tests “unusual” topics that many nurses know little about. Instead the OET asks nurses to write discharge letters, listen to patient/professional discussions, and be tested on patient notes – all occupationally relevant activities.

However, the OET also poses challenges. Although the pass rates of the OET are marginally higher than those of the IELTS, it is also significantly more expensive to take. Given many  international recruits already struggle with the financial burden of the IELTS, this may mean it is a lot less accessible to candidates.

As the OET is not yet as popular as the IELTS, it also doesn’t run as frequently, and there aren’t as many test centres offering it meaning it is not as convenient for some candidates.

Although the increase in English Language testing options is certainly welcome, the introduction of the OET is by no means a golden ticket for nurses. Unless the OET can demonstrate significantly higher pass rates to justify the additional cost to candidates and employers alike, it will remain inaccessible for many nurses.

It will be interesting to see if an increase in popularity  of the OET over time enables the regulators to reduce the cost and increase the frequency, which would make this far more attractive to healthcare employers and nursing candidates alike.

Advantages vs Disadvantages of IELTS and OET

Vital Statistics:

 

Helpful Resources:

• OET Sample Reading Test
• OET Sample Listening Test
• OET Sample Speaking Test
• OET Sample Writing Test

My Healthcare Recruit supports UK healthcare employers in the public, private, and care sector to find international nurses who are a great fit for their organisation, by using market-leading video interviewing tools to connect them to our database of qualified candidates. Our innovative approach makes international candidates easier to find and more cost-effective to source than ever before. Find out more at www.myhealthcarerecruit.com