If you’re a nurse planning to work in the UK, new research has revealed that the OET Test is now the most popular English language test for healthcare professionals like you. In 2022/23, nearly 14,000 international nurses used their OET Test results to register as a nurse in the UK, overtaking IELTS as the preferred test for proving English language skills.

This new report, backed by Cambridge English research, shows that most overseas nurses now choose the OET Test as part of their application process for UK nursing roles. Recruiters interviewed as part of the study said they've found that 80% of the nurses they place in NHS trusts present OET scores, and some healthcare providers reported that up to 90% of their international recruits took the OET Test.

So, what makes the OET Test such a great choice for nurses like you? The report highlights several key reasons:

• Build confidence in your English skills: The OET Test is designed specifically for healthcare professionals, meaning the language you’ll use in the test is relevant to your job. Clinical educators and recruiters say that nurses who take the OET Test often communicate better and feel more confident in their roles, making the transition into working life in the UK much smoother.

• Faster, more affordable success: Because the OET Test focuses on the language you’ll actually use at work, candidates tend to achieve their required scores more quickly than those taking general English tests, like IELTS. This saves you time and money during the preparation process.

• Quicker recruitment process: The OET Test’s healthcare-specific content means recruiters can place you more easily into NHS roles. Since the test focuses on practical language skills for healthcare, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running once you start working.

Nurses who have taken the OET Test often say they appreciate how the test reflects real-life situations they’ll encounter on the job. You’ll get to practice writing discharge letters, handling patient referrals, and more—just like you would in your day-to-day work at the NHS.

One nurse shared, “In the OET (Test), I was asked about scenarios like transferring a patient or writing a discharge letter. These tasks helped me feel more familiar with what I now do daily at work, making my transition much smoother.”

Another nurse, now living and working in the UK said, "[Without OET] it would take me time to understand the letters ... the referrals, the admissions. But when you are preparing for the OET Test, it is already practiced. It would have definitely taken me longer to adjust."

Nurses interviewed in the research also described how empowered they felt after passing their OET Test.

"OET is the ticket to the world ... OET is a dream come true. When I passed my exam I definitely knew that I was going to come to the UK.” 

“I remembered that vividly, when I was on duty and I received an email, a confirmation about my [OET] grades, and then when I saw that all my grades were very high, a lot of things just opened up. I can go abroad to the UK, or maybe go to Australia, or maybe go to New Zealand. A lot of things really opened up after the OET (Test).” 

If you’re getting ready to take the next step in your nursing career and work in the UK, find out more and read the full report. You’ll find more insights into how the OET Test can help you succeed in your journey and why it’s the top choice for nurses looking to work overseas.