IELTS out, OET in for UK-bound

Kochi: The United Kingdom Home Office has announced that nurses, doctors and midwives who meet the English language requirement of their relevant healthcare board like Nursing and Midwifery Council or General Medical Council will no longer need to sit for a separate English test like IELTS and TOEFL to apply for a general visa or Tier II visa.

A single OET (Occupational English Test) will suffice for the same and UK registration purpose.  

The change that will come into effect from October 1, 2019, will enhance employment opportunities in the UK for Indian healthcare professionals, majority of whom are from Kerala. The OET is an international English language test that assesses the language communication skills of healthcare professionals who seek to register and practice in an English-speaking environment.

Earlier, OET was applicable only for registering with relevant healthcare provider in UK after candidates cleared tests like IELTS or TOEFL.

“The Home Office has also streamlined English language testing ensuring that doctors, dentists, nurses and midwives who have already passed an English language test accepted by the relevant professional body, do not have to sit another test before entry to the UK on a Tier 2 visa. This change will make sure that hospitals and medical practices across the country will be able to access the staff they need more quickly,” the Home Office of UK Government announcement said.

“OET enables test-takers, recruiters and employers, to best prepare candidates for the English-speaking healthcare workplace. OET results are accepted by healthcare regulators in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Namibia, Singapore and Ukraine as proof of English language proficiency. The test is also recognised in Australia and New Zealand for visa and immigration purposes,” said Sujata Stead, CEO, Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a venture between Cambridge Assessment English and Box Hill Institute, that owns OET.

“It is held every month in more than 110 locations in 40 countries. OET tests real communication scenarios candidates will encounter in the healthcare workplace, whereas other tests assess English language skills using everyday scenarios,” she said.

The test is conducted for health practitioners from 12 professions — dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatory, radiography, speech pathology and veterinary science.