Specialist Language Courses

OET accepted for overseas AHPs working in the UK

We’re delighted to see that the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the UK regulator for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), now accept OET for a number of different AHPs, namely chiropodists, podiatrists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and radiographers.

OET, the Occupation English Test, is an international English language exam specifically designed to test English used in healthcare. There are 12 different versions of the test, each targeting the language used by a specific profession. The scores required are set at an advanced level (see table below).

In the test, candidates take four papers, one for each skill. The Writing and Speaking papers are profession-specific. They ask test takers to write a letter based on a set of case notes and take part in two role plays, in both cases as if they were a podiatrist, dietitian, etc. In the Speaking test, candidates are scored on clinical communication as well as general linguistic skills. The Reading and Listening papers are common to all professions and cover a wide range of healthcare English, including workplace texts and conversations, consultations, articles and talks.

OET Medicine is already recognised by the GMC, and OET Nursing by the NMC, so it’s great to see HCPC follow suit. In many ways, OET is a much more practical, useful test to study for than the alternatives accepted, IELTS and TOEFL, which have a strong academic focus. By studying for OET, candidates cover a wide range of language they will use when at work, when researching their specialism, speaking with colleagues, attending events, or engaging with professional development.

Which OET exams are accepted for which AHP professions? What scores do they need?

Profession OET Test Minimum score required
Chiropodist/podiatrist OET Podiatry 1400, minimum 300 per paper
Dietitian OET Dietary 1400, minimum 300 per paper
Occupational therapist OET Occupational Therapy 1400, minimum 300 per paper
Physiotherapist OET Physiotherapy 1400, minimum 300 per paper
Radiographer OET Radiography 1400, minimum 300 per paper
Speech and language therapist OET Speech and Language 1800, minimum 400 per paper

 

A note on scores

An A grade in OET is 450-500 points, a B grade is 350-440, and a C+ is 300-340. It’s possible therefore, for a candidate to score 2 x B and 2 x C+, as long as the total is 1400 or more. Speech and Language Therapists, quite understandably, require a higher score given the work they do.

An A grade is very high level and difficult to achieve. A B grade is still an advanced level and a C+ a strong upper-intermediate level.

These scores are reassuring in that they indicate an AHP has the necessary language and communication skills to work in the UK healthcare service. The fact that the test is healthcare focussed only adds to its validity.

Achieving the scores

OET Doctors success

Achieving a C+ and higher in each paper is not easy. Candidates need a high level of vocabulary, grammar, writing and communication skills. They also need to understand the exam formats, question types and marking criteria, so they can manage the test confidently and effectively. The exam day is high pressure, with the Listening, Reading and Writing happening on one morning, with the Speaking taking place in the afternoon.

A preparation course therefore includes in-depth analysis and input on relevant language, techniques and strategies, as well as extensive practice, including mock tests.

SLC was the first training organisation to become an accredited OET Premium Preparation Partner in 2017. Since then, we have successfully prepared thousands of healthcare professionals to take OET as part of their career journey, both to the UK and to other countries such as the US, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, all of whom recognise OET.

For more information on how we help candidates, please get in touch.

Further reading

HCPC website update: Certificate of English Proficiency

Pastoral care courses for AHPs when they arrive in the UK: Living and Working in the UK: AHP edition

What is OET? Read SLC’s guide to OET

What’s the difference between OET and IELTS? Read SLC’s breakdown of the similarities and differences