OET REQUIREMENTS · UNITED STATES
OET requirements for ECFMG (US medical graduates): what score you need
ECFMG certifies international medical graduates for entry into US graduate medical education, and English proficiency is part of that process. OET Medicine is accepted as evidence of proficiency.
The US route is where OET is most tightly tied to a hard deadline, since ECFMG requirements gate residency applications. The rules are ECFMG's and are updated, so confirm the current position early.
THE OET REQUIREMENT
ECFMG has accepted OET Medicine at grade B, a numeric score of 350, in each of the four subtests, as one way to meet its English proficiency requirement, including for certain Pathways. The accepted grade and which requirements OET satisfies are set by ECFMG and change, so confirm the current rule on the ECFMG website.
WORTH CONFIRMING
Because US application timelines are strict, check not only the accepted grade but also how recent your result must be and which specific ECFMG requirement or Pathway OET Medicine satisfies. These details are set by ECFMG and should be confirmed directly well before any application deadline.
LAST REVIEWED 6 JULY 2026
PREPARE FOR THE GRADE
Whatever the exact figure, Writing and Speaking are the subtests most candidates lose marks on. WardPass marks practice letters and role plays in seconds against the published OET criteria, and tracks a readiness estimate per subtest toward the 350 line, so you know whether you are on track before you sit the test.
Independent preparation service. Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, OET or Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment. This page is general guidance, not official advice; regulator requirements change, so always confirm the current rule with the regulator before booking or applying.