IELTS or OET for NMC and HCPC registration: which should I take?
Checked against the regulator’s own pages, October 2026
Both the NMC and the HCPC accept IELTS and OET, so the choice is yours. OET is set in a healthcare context and has profession-specific versions; IELTS is a general academic test. The rules differ: the NMC accepts only IELTS Academic and allows two sittings to be combined, while the HCPC accepts IELTS General too, plus TOEFL iBT.
Who this is for
Nurses, midwives and allied health professionals deciding which English test to book for UK registration.
What the official guidance says
- NMC: IELTS Academic at 7 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing; or OET (Nursing) at B in reading, listening and speaking and C+ in writing.
- HCPC: IELTS (Academic or General) at 7.0 with no element below 6.5; or OET in your profession at 1400 with no element below 300. Speech and language therapists need more.
- The NMC describes OET as testing English in a healthcare or academic context, with the speaking element tested by a person.
- NMC: you can combine two sittings of the same test within 12 months if you meet its minimum scores. HCPC: one-skill IELTS retakes count within 6 months on the same report, but combined TOEFL scores do not.
- NMC: the test must have been taken in the two years before your full application is assessed. HCPC: the certificate must be no more than two years old when it receives your application.
- NMC: OET@Home is accepted, IELTS Online is not. HCPC: tests must be taken at an official test centre, not at home.
What it does not mean
- One test is not “easier” for everyone. Pick the format you can score in, against the exact numbers above.
- A score that meets HCPC rules may not meet NMC rules (IELTS General, for example), and the other way round (OET@Home).
- Your UK visa has its own English requirement; registration evidence and visa evidence are checked separately.
What to do next
- 01Confirm which regulator you are applying to.
- 02Check whether your training or practice already counts as English evidence, so you may not need a test.
- 03Choose a test version the regulator accepts, and book it so it is still in date when you apply.
Questions
Does the NMC accept IELTS General Training?
No. The NMC accepts only IELTS Academic and OET.
Does the HCPC accept PTE?
The HCPC’s English page lists three providers: IELTS, TOEFL iBT and OET. PTE is not among them.
Is Migo part of the NMC or the HCPC?
No. Migo is an independent service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NMC or the HCPC, and it does not give legal or immigration advice.
Official sources
- NMC: Accepted English language tests
- NMC: IELTS Academic
- NMC: OET
- HCPC: Certificate of English language proficiency
Checked October 2026. Regulators change their rules, fees and scores, so confirm them on the official page before you act.
The visa side
Registration and the visa are separate. Migo’s visa guides cover the routes for this country, from the official government pages.
Let Migo prepare the paperwork with you
Migo AI Mobility checks your English evidence against your regulator’s rules as part of your NMC or HCPC plan, alongside your other documents, and prepares your application for you to review. Nothing is submitted or paid without your approval. Migo does not teach or book English tests.
Your plan is free. You approve every paid step.
Related guides
Migo is independent: it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the regulator named on this page. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.