National English Language Proficiency Requirement for International Medical Graduates – Australia

Overseas trained doctors seeking medical registration to work in Australia are required to have a high level of English language proficiency. This is essential to enable practitioners to communicate with patients, other doctors and health professionals, and for maintenance of professional standards.

The International English Language Testing System IELTS is an appropriate language testing model for international medical graduates seeking registration.

Requirements

Applicants need to submit evidence to the relevant registration authority of competency in speaking and communicating in English, as demonstrated by having completed the IELTS examination (Academic module) to the following standard: The boards require the application to have achieved a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components.

Alternative English proficiency tests that will be accepted are:

  • Completed and obtained an overall pass in the Occupational English Test OET with grades A or B only in each of the four components; or
  • A pass in the Professional Linguistic Assessment Board PLAB in the United Kingdom; or
  • A pass in the New Zealand Registration Examination NZREX in New Zealand.
  • Results must have been obtained within 2 years prior to applying for registration.
  • An IELTS (or approved equivalent) Test Report more than two years old will be accepted as evidence if accompanied by proof that the candidate has actively maintained employment as a medical practitioner in a country where English is the native or first language.

Results from any of the abovementioned English language examinations must be obtained in one sitting.

Exemptions

The boards may grant exemption where the applicant provides evidence of secondary education in English in one of the countries listed below where English is the native or first language:

  • Canada
  • Republic of Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
  • United States of America
  • South Africa

English Language Testing Requirements for International Medical Graduates – New Zealand

Sections 16(a) and (b) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 require the Medical Council to ensure that any person given registration to practise medicine in New Zealand is able to communicate in and comprehend English sufficiently in order to protect the health and safety of the public, and for the purposes of practising within a scope of practice in which they are registered.

Candidates applying to sit NZREX Clinical, and applicants for registration or assessment for registration, must have a reasonable ability to comprehend and communicate effectively in English in the medical workplace, as one of the requirements for application.
Doctors applying to sit NZREX Clinical, and doctors applying for registration, will be required to have achieved an overall band of 7.5 or above in the academic module of IELTS in the last:

  • two years for new applicants and new NZREX candidates, or
  • five years for repeat NZREX candidates.

A minimum band of 7 is required in each of the four individual components of the test (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Occupational English Test (OET) are not accepted by the Council as alternatives to IELTS.

IELTS is the only English test approved by the Council.