OET (Occupational English Test) is an international English language exam designed specifically for healthcare professionals. It is usually taken by candidates who plan to work, register, or migrate to an English-speaking country.
Unlike IELTS, OET focuses on medical English and real workplace situations in healthcare.
The OET exam belongs to:
- Cambridge Assessment English and
- Box Hill Institute (Australia).
If you you are going to work and live in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the USA or Canada, you must have an OET certificate (or IELTS). It is required by organisations such as GMC (UK), AHPRA (Australia), Immigration New Zealand, and similar authorities.
OET checks how well you can use English in real medical situations, including patient consultations, medical records, and professional letters to colleagues.
12 professions
There are 12 versions of the OET for different healthcare professions (doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, veterinarians, and others).
OET is more popular than IELTS among doctors and nurses because its content is fully related to healthcare and clinical practice.
Structure of the OET Exam
Like IELTS, OET consists of listening, writing, reading and speaking parts, but with a medical focus. The total exam time is about 3 hours, while the Speaking test is taken separately.
OET is available in paper-based and computer-based formats.
Listening
It lasts 45 minutes and consists of 3 sections and 24 questions:
- a consultation (doctor – patient)
- a lecture
- a discussion between medical professionals)
You listen to healthcare-related conversations such as doctor–patient consultations, discussions between colleagues, and short medical talks.
This part of the exam is the same for all professions.
Reading
It lasts 60 minutes and consists of 3 sections and 42 questions, as well.
- short texts (20 minutes)
- general medical texts
- medical article (40 minutes together)
It includes different types of medical texts and checks your ability to find information, understand meaning, and analyse healthcare-related content.
The Reading test is also identical for all candidates, regardless of profession.
Writing
The Writing test lasts 45 minutes and includes only one task (hurray). You write a professional medical letter, such as a referral or discharge letter, based on a clinical case related to your profession.
The recommended length is 180–200 words.
Speaking
The Speaking test lasts about 20 minutes. It includes two role-play tasks. You act in your professional role, while the interlocutor plays a patient or colleague.
Common scenarios include taking medical history, explaining a condition, giving advice, or discussing treatment.
The Speaking test is usually scheduled within 7 days before or after the main exam day.
Profession-Specific Differences
While Listening and Reading are the same for everyone, Writing and Speaking are profession-specific.
For doctors, Writing usually involves referral or discharge letters, and Speaking includes consultations, explaining diagnoses, or discussing treatment plans.
For nurses, Writing often focuses on patient transfer or care coordination, and Speaking includes patient assessment, wound care, and patient education.
Validity of OET Results
OET results are generally valid for two years, but exact requirements depend on the country and regulatory body.