Part of our Nursing Councils of the World series. Last checked: November 2026.
Before the Nursing Council of New Zealand will register you as an internationally qualified nurse, you must prove your English, and it accepts only two tests: IELTS Academic and OET. The good news is that you can combine your best scores from more than one sitting.
Imagine scoring 7.5 in reading and speaking but 6 in writing, and paying to resit the whole test again and again. Under New Zealand’s rules you can keep your earlier passes and focus on the one band you are missing, as long as you stay within the time limit.
Quick answer: The Nursing Council of New Zealand accepts:
- IELTS Academic: at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking, and 6.5 in writing
- OET: at least 350 in reading, listening and speaking, and 300 in writing
- All required scores within 12 months of your first sitting, from one type of test only
Minimum scores
| Test | Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 |
| OET | 350 | 350 | 350 | 300 |
The rules that trip people up
- Only IELTS Academic and OET count. The Council does not accept PTE or IELTS General Training.
- Test centre only. Computer-based tests are accepted if you sit them at an approved test centre; fully online tests are not.
- You can combine sittings (“clubbing”), but all scores must come from the same test. You cannot mix an IELTS result with an OET result.
- 12-month window: all required scores must be achieved within 12 months of your first sitting.
- Three-year limit: all your sittings must fall within the three years before your application to the Council.
Can you skip the English test?
There are two alternative pathways, granted at the Council’s discretion:
- Education-based: your initial nursing education was in Canada, Ireland, Singapore, the UK or the USA and was taught and examined in English. Postgraduate study in those countries does not count.
- Registration-based: you are registered in Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA, and an English test was required for that registration.
Nurses registered in Australia do not need to show English evidence, under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. If an alternative pathway is refused, you can always use the test-based pathway.
But which test is easier, IELTS or OET?
Neither is easier for everyone. OET uses health care scenarios, which many nurses find familiar; IELTS Academic is broader. What matters for New Zealand is that you cannot mix them, so choose one and stay with it until you have every score you need. Our IELTS vs OET guide compares the two.
Your next step: Book your first IELTS Academic or OET sitting at a test centre and note the date: your 12-month window starts then. Then read our full Nursing Council of New Zealand guide for the rest of the registration process.
Sources: Nursing Council of New Zealand, English language requirements for internationally qualified nurses, “English Language Competence Policy Guidance” (19 August 2022) and the Council’s news release on its refreshed English language competence policy. Checked November 2026.
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