1) Meet Education & Work Requirements
- Diploma or BSN from an accredited RN program
- Licensed as a Registered Nurse
- 2 years’ work experience as an RN
2) Pass the IELTS Exam
- Pass the Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam with a score of 7 in speaking and 6.5 overall.
3) Pass the NCLEX Exam
- After ensuring you meet the education and language requirements, it’s time to clear the NCLEX-RN exam. Register with Pearson Vue to schedule your NCLEX exam location and date. NCLEX examinations are currently administered in various countries around the world including Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, India and the Philippines.
4) Obtain a VisaScreen Certificate
- You will need to secure a VisaScreen Credentials Assessment from the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS). The VisaScreen is a comprehensive screening service for healthcare professionals seeking an occupational visa to work in the United States. Applicants who successfully complete the VisaScreen Credentials Assessment receive a VisaScreen Certificate which ensures that they have the necessary qualifications and language skills to work as a RN in America.
5) Select an Agency to Find You a Job in the U.S.
- There are generally two types of agencies that help international nurses to secure jobs in the U.S. Direct Hire or Permanent Placement agencies & Contract Staffing agencies.
- Direct Hire: The international nurse becomes an employee of the U.S. healthcare facility and receives sponsorship for his/her green card directly from the healthcare facility.
- Contract Hire: The international nurse is an employee of the staffing agency and receives sponsorship for his/her green card from the agency. The staffing agency contracts their services to healthcare facilities needing nurses.
Nurse know exactly where they will be working from day one and receive the same salary and benefits as regular staff.
Healthcare facilities can immediately build their permanent nursing workforce and reduce dependency on contract labor.
6) Secure an Employment Based Work Visa
- The next step is to obtain your employment-based work visa (green card). Nurses that receive sponsorship directly from U.S. healthcare facilities generally do not face any challenges during the immigration process. A green card allows a nurse to live and work in the U.S. permanently.
7) Attend Immigrant Visa Interview
- At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. When approved, you will be informed when your passport and visa will be returned to you.
8) Arrive & Start Working in the U.S.
- Upon your arrival in America, a GNF representative will meet you at the airport, take you to your temporary housing and help you settle into your new community. We’ll make sure you receive your RN license, social security number and driver’s license so you can start your exciting new life and career in America.
So here is a list of countries that accept OET for nurses:
The United States
- In the US the legislation varies from state to state. Currently, the ECFMG, FAIMER, the Oregon State Board of Nursing, and the Florida Board of Nursing are accepting OET for Nurses as proof of proficiency.
- Oregon State Board of Nursing requires a minimum of a B (350) in each of the components
- the Florida Board of Nursing requires a minimum of a C+ (300) in each of the components
- Both boards also accept IELTS as proof of proficiency, however, OET is a better fit for nurses since it’s a bit easier when compared to IELTS.
The United Kingdom
- The nursing council in the UK accepts people who score a minimum of a B on the OET test in listening, reading, and speaking and at least a C+ in writing.
Australia
- The Australian Health Care Agencies for Nurses demands a B grade in the 4 components of the test.
- The good news, compared to other countries, is that you can combine the 4 B grades from 2 sittings taken within a 6 month period.
Ireland
- The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) reduced the score for foreign nurses from B to C+ in reading and listening. However, a B grade is still demanded in speaking and writing.
Spain
- OET enables Spanish nursing students to prove their proficiency in Medical English and therefore become part of the global healthcare community. A grade B in all bands is required for Spain.
New Zealand
- The New Zealand Nursing Council demands a B in the 4 skills in order for a candidate to register himself as a nurse.
- The candidate can take a B in multiple sittings combining their scores as long as the 4 B grades are achieved within the first sitting of the OET test.
Singapore
- A test taker must reach grade B in all 4 components to be able to register with an appropriate healthcare board in Singapore to work as a nurse. The score must be achieved in the last two years.
United Arab Emirates
- Dubai has become the first PLACE in the United Arab Emirates to recognize the Occupational English Test as a proof of proficiency for Nurses. The accepted grade is a B in the 4 skills.
- The OET organization signed an agreement with both the DHCA and KHDA, allowing nurses to build up a career in the UAE.
- With an ever-increasing number of foreign families moving to Dubai every year, Dubai Healthcare City body understands the need for their health professionals to be proficient in English.
What is the passing score for OET
As you were able to realize by now while reading the article which countries accept OET for nurses.
The passing grade is generally a B for every country, however, a few of them let you score a C+ in some specific components of the exam.
