In the rapidly globalizing healthcare industry, English proficiency is a non-negotiable skill for professionals aiming to excel in diverse, multilingual environments. As of September 2025, with healthcare worker shortages projected to reach 10 million globally by 2030, the demand for skilled practitioners capable of seamless communication in English-speaking settings has surged. 

For doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals, standardized English language tests tailored to medical contexts are critical for securing licensure, visas, and employment in countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. 

These tests go beyond general language skills, assessing the ability to navigate patient consultations, interpret medical documentation, and collaborate in high-stakes clinical settings. 

This article examines the leading English proficiency tests for healthcare professionals, assessing their relevance, acceptance, and alignment with the updated regulatory requirements of 2025, including the new OET overall score system introduced on January 29, 2025, and the expanded visa policies in Australia effective August 7, 2025. 

By analyzing key options, we aim to identify the best test to empower medical professionals in their career journeys, with preparation resources like oetpro.com playing a pivotal role in success.

The Importance of English Proficiency in Healthcare

Effective communication in healthcare is not just about language fluency; it’s about ensuring patient safety, fostering trust, and facilitating collaboration in multicultural teams. Miscommunication can lead to medical errors, reduced patient satisfaction, and inefficiencies, making specialized English tests essential. 

These assessments evaluate profession-specific skills, such as explaining diagnoses, writing referrals, or understanding diverse accents in telehealth settings—a growing focus in 2025 due to advancements in digital healthcare. 

For international professionals, passing a recognized test is often a prerequisite for registration with bodies like the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) or Australia’s Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), as well as for securing Skilled Worker visas. 

With global mobility on the rise, tests that align with medical contexts provide a competitive edge, ensuring candidates meet the linguistic demands of modern healthcare systems.

Different English Tests for Healthcare Professionals

Several English language tests cater to healthcare professionals, each designed to assess skills relevant to medical practice. Below is an updated overview of the prominent options in 2025, reflecting the latest standards and acceptance criteria.

Occupational English Test (OET)

• Overview: The OET is the gold standard for healthcare professionals, explicitly tailored for 12 professions, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and physiotherapy. It assesses four sub-tests—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—through scenarios mimicking real-world medical interactions, such as patient consultations or discharge letters.

• Structure:

• Listening (45-50 minutes): Three parts with consultations, workplace dialogues, and presentations, testing comprehension of diverse accents (e.g., Canadian, Irish, added in 2025).

• Reading (60 minutes): Three parts involving rapid information extraction, workplace texts, and detailed articles.

• Writing (45 minutes): A profession-specific letter (180-220 words) based on case notes.

• Speaking (20 minutes): Two role-plays simulating patient or colleague interactions, now with enhanced AI-assisted practice options.

• Recognition: Widely accepted by regulatory bodies in the UK (GMC, NMC), Australia (AHPRA), New Zealand, Canada, and the USA (ECFMG, effective January 2025). In 2025, Australia’s visa policy update will integrate OET for streamlined immigration, with exemptions for certain English-speaking nationals.

• Scoring: Graded A (450-500) to E, with B (350-440) typically required. The 2025 overall score averages sub-tests, aiding borderline cases.

• Advantages: Direct relevance to healthcare, updated to reflect telehealth and digital records. Platforms like oetpro.com offer free practice tests mirroring 2025 formats.

• Cost and Accessibility: AUD 587 (USD 455), available globally in paper, computer, or at-home formats, with mid-week test dates added in 2025.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

• Overview: A general academic English test, IELTS Academic is accepted by some healthcare regulators for registration and visas, assessing Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

• Structure:

• Listening (30 minutes): Four recordings, not healthcare-specific.

• Reading (60 minutes): Academic texts, less medical focus.

• Writing (60 minutes): Two tasks, including an essay, not tailored to medical contexts.

• Speaking (11-14 minutes): General interview, less relevant to clinical scenarios.

• Recognition: Accepted by some UK and Australian bodies, but less preferred than OET for healthcare due to its generic nature.

• Scoring: 0-9 band scale; healthcare regulators typically require 7.0 overall, 7.0 per section.

• Advantages: Broad global acceptance, frequent test dates.

• Cost and Accessibility: USD 250-300, widely available.

PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic)

• Overview: A computer-based test assessing general academic English, accepted by some healthcare institutions and visa authorities.

• Structure: Integrated tasks for Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing, with some medical-related prompts but not profession-specific.

• Recognition: Recognized by select regulators and universities, less common for healthcare licensure than OET.

• Scoring: 10-90 scale, with 65-75 often required for medical purposes.

• Advantages: Fast results (2-3 days), automated scoring.

• Cost and Accessibility: USD 200-250, globally accessible.

TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test)

• Overview: A general academic test, accepted by some US healthcare programs and licensing bodies.

• Structure: Four sections with an academic focus, not tailored to medical scenarios.

• Recognition: Limited use in healthcare licensure; more for academic admissions.

• Scoring: 0-120 scale, with 90-100 typically needed.

• Advantages: Strong US recognition.

• Cost and Accessibility: USD 200-300, widely available.

LanguageCert SELT (Secure English Language Test)

• Overview: Designed for UK visa applications, including Health and Care Worker visas, with some healthcare-specific speaking tasks.

• Structure: Four skills assessed, with medical scenarios in Speaking.

• Recognition: UK Home Office-approved for visas, less common for licensure.

• Scoring: Pass/Fail based on CEFR levels (B2/C1).

• Advantages: Tailored for UK immigration.

• Cost and Accessibility: USD 150-200, UK-focused centers.

TELC Medizin (B2-C1)

• Overview: European-focused, specialized in healthcare, assessing medical communication.

• Structure: Tasks include patient dialogues and medical reports.

• Recognition: Limited to European institutions, less global than OET.

• Scoring: CEFR-based, B2-C1 levels.

• Advantages: Niche focus for Europe.

• Cost and Accessibility: EUR 150-200, mainly in Europe.

These tests ensure professionals can handle linguistic demands, with preparation via oetpro.com enhancing performance in healthcare-specific formats.

Which is the Best Test for Medical Professionals?

Selecting the optimal test depends on career goals, regulatory requirements, and personal strengths. Below, we compare key factors based on 2025 standards:

Relevance to Healthcare Scenarios

• OET: unrivalled for its direct focus on medical tasks like referrals, consultations, and case notes, updated in 2025 to include telehealth scenarios. Its profession-specific design (e.g., nursing vs. physiotherapy) ensures relevance.

• LanguageCert SELT: Includes healthcare speaking tasks, ideal for UK visa applicants.

• TELC Medizin: Tailored for medical communication but limited to European contexts.

• IELTS, PTE, TOEFL: General academic focus, less aligned with clinical practice.

Winner: OET, for its unmatched healthcare specificity.

Acceptance by Regulatory Bodies

• OET: Preferred by GMC, NMC, AHPRA, and ECFMG (USA, 2025), with new visa acceptance in Australia.

• IELTS Academic: Accepted by some regulators but secondary to OET.

• LanguageCert SELT: UK visa-specific, limited licensure use.

• PTE, TOEFL: Less common for healthcare registration.

• TELC: Europe-only, niche acceptance.

Winner: OET, for the broadest healthcare recognition.

Validity and Recognition

• OET: Valid for two years, globally recognized, with 2025’s overall score enhancing flexibility.

• IELTS, PTE: Widely accepted for visas and academics, valid for two years.

• TOEFL: Strong in US academia, less in healthcare.

• LanguageCert, TELC: Region-specific validity.

Winner: OET, for healthcare-focused global reach.

Task Types and Skills Assessed

• OET: Practical tasks mirror real medical duties, with 2025 updates emphasizing digital health literacy.

• IELTS, PTE, TOEFL: General tasks, less relevant to clinical needs.

• LanguageCert, TELC: Some medical tasks, but less comprehensive.

Winner: OET, for targeted skill assessment.

Scoring System and Results

• OET: A-E grades, B required; results in 10-12 days, with 2025 overall score aiding evaluations.

• IELTS: 0-9 bands, 13 days.

• PTE: 10-90, 2-3 days.

• TOEFL: 0-120, 6-10 days.

• LanguageCert, TELC: CEFR-based, variable turnaround.

Winner: OET, for balanced healthcare scoring.

Cost and Accessibility

• OET: AUD 587, global centers, mid-week dates in 2025.

• IELTS, TOEFL: USD 200-300, widespread.

• PTE: USD 200-250, flexible.

• LanguageCert, TELC: Cheaper but less accessible globally.

Winner: OET, for healthcare accessibility balance.

Best Overall: OET stands out for its healthcare-specific design, global acceptance, and alignment with 2025’s regulatory updates. Platforms like oetpro.com enhance preparation with tailored practice.

The OET is the premier choice for healthcare professionals in 2025, offering unmatched relevance, acceptance, and alignment with the needs of medical communications. While IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, LanguageCert, and TELC have merits, OET’s focus on real-world scenarios, updated scoring, and preparation resources like oetpro.com make it the top pick for advancing careers in global healthcare.