English Language Requirements
All internationally qualified Registered Nurses and
many other health professions, including those from English
speaking countries, will be required to complete an English
language assessment for New Zealand.
The following links are an overview of each of the process each
test involves, from booking and applying for a test date, awaiting
confirmation of this test date, studying for the test, and sitting
and obtaining your results, and we attempt to clarify some of the
questions you may have. We highly recommend you practice for
both of these test as many English speaking nurses fail due to time
constraints.
Please Note: The following links will open
in a new browser and take you to a separate Geneva Website.
Please remember to return to Geneva Health's New Zealand website to
continue learning about working in New Zealand.
English Language Testing System
(IELTS)
You are required to pass the IELTS Academic
test with a score of a minimum of 7 in all
four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening, and all
in one sitting. Your test results will be valid for a period
of two years. We recommend this test to native
English speakers, as it is a comprehensive test, with very obscure
questions.
Visit the IELTS website
Occupational English Test
(OET)
You must pass the OET test with at least a level B in all four
components: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. We
recommend the OET test to candidates for whom English is their
second language as it is nursing based questions, and even though
it costs more, you will more likely pass this.
Visit the Occupational English Test Website