OET REQUIREMENTS · UNITED KINGDOM
OET requirements for the NMC (UK nursing): what score you need
The NMC regulates nurses and midwives in the UK, and it is the body most international nurses are preparing OET for. It accepts OET as evidence of English language competence for registration.
OET is one of the routes the NMC recognises; the exact grade and the flexibility around it are set by the NMC and updated periodically, so this page is a starting point, not the final word.
THE OET REQUIREMENT
The NMC has commonly required grade B, a numeric score of 350, in each of the four subtests, taken on the OET Medicine or Nursing version as appropriate. Confirm the current minimum on the NMC website before you book, because the figure and the accepted OET version can change.
WORTH CONFIRMING
The NMC has at various times allowed limited flexibility, such as combining results from two sittings taken within a set window, or accepting one subtest slightly below B under specific conditions tied to clinical experience. These concessions change and come with precise terms, so treat any such rule as something to verify directly rather than rely on from a third party.
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.