This is general information taken from the Nursing and Midwifery Council's own pages, not personal advice. The two pages used below showed a last-updated date of 8 March 2024 when read, so check the live pages before you book a test.
Which tests the NMC accepts
The NMC's accepted tests page says that IELTS Academic and the Occupational English Test (OET) are the only tests it can accept as proof of English language competence. IELTS General Training is not on the list. This page covers IELTS only.
The scores in one sitting
The NMC's IELTS Academic page sets a minimum for each skill.
| Skill | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 7 |
| Reading | 7 |
| Writing | 6.5 |
| Speaking | 7 |
The pages read give scores for each skill. They do not state an overall band, so do not assume that a particular overall band is enough.
How long scores last
The accepted tests page says scores are valid for two years, and the test must have been taken in the two years before the NMC assesses your complete application.
Which IELTS versions count
- Paper and computer, at a test centre: accepted.
- IELTS for UKVI: accepted. The NMC says it is the same as the standard IELTS Academic test by all other measures.
- IELTS Online: not accepted.
- IELTS Indicator: not accepted.
- One Skill Retake: not accepted, because the NMC wants all four skills tested at the same time.
Combining two sittings
If you miss a score, the NMC allows you to combine two sittings of the same test. The conditions below come from the accepted tests page and the IELTS Academic page, so read both:
- The two test dates are within 12 months of each other.
- Both tests were taken in the two years before the NMC assesses your complete application.
- Each sitting tests all four skills; One Skill Retake is not accepted.
- Across the two sittings you have at least 7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 6.5 in Writing.
- In each sitting you scored at least 6.5 in Listening, Reading and Speaking, and at least 6 in Writing.
- You do not mix IELTS with OET.
For example, a Listening score of 6 in either sitting fails the per-sitting minimum, even if the other sitting is strong. You will need your IELTS certificate and Test Report Form (TRF) number; check the NMC page for exactly what to provide if you combine two sittings.
Other routes the NMC lists
The English language requirements page also describes a pre-registration qualification taught and examined in English, one year of recent practice in a country where English is the majority-spoken language, and supporting information from an employer for some people. Whether any of these fits you is for the NMC to decide.
How this relates to the visa
The Health and Care Worker visa asks for a separate English level, but gov.uk says you do not need to prove your knowledge of English for the visa if you have already passed an English language assessment accepted by the relevant regulated professional body. Check the gov.uk page for whether this applies to you. For the visa rule in full, see IELTS for Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas. For where to sit the test, see UKVI test centres in the UK.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike is CELTA-certified (July 2017), based in Hanoi, with 12+ years teaching English and IELTS in Vietnam, Turkey and Iran. His own IELTS result is 8.5 in Speaking. He teaches every session himself, one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English.
- He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors.
- He runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format, with feedback in the moment.
- He works on Listening and Reading skills, and leaves written progress notes in your account.
Lessons cover IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. They do not cover OET or the NMC's own procedures, and no result is promised. See the booking calendar, which shows each slot in your own time zone.
