English Language Testing

The Nurses and Midwives Act 1991 requires that all nurses and midwives must have an adequate command of the English language and thus in many cases the Nurses and Midwives Board will require the submission of English Language Test Results.

For nurses and midwives who were born or educated in countries where English is the native tongue, English Language Testing is not a pre-requisite to working as a registrred nurse or midwife in Australia.

For those nurses and midwives who were born or educated outside of the UK or Ireland but who have completed an adaptation course and gone on to work in either the UK or Ireland, a language test is not required, however they will be required to submit an employment reference (from a ward manager) stating the nurse's competence with the English language.

To register as a Nurse in New South Wales, Nurses and Midwives who were educated and registered as a nurse / Midwife in a member state of the European Union other than the United Kingdom and Ireland English language testing is required. In addition, the education institution or appropriate registering authority must verify that the nurse/midwife's education program complies with European Union directive 77/453 are required to provide evidence of a satisfactory level of English language to practice as a nurse in Australia. 

At present an acceptable result is a score of 7 overall with no less than 6.5 in each band of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) run by the British Council. 

You are not required to produce an IELTS result if you have been or are registered in the UK, Ireland or the US and have worked min 12 months in the UK, Ireland or the US as registered nurse or midwife (after you qualified as a nurse/midwife) within the past 2 years (calculated from the date NMB receives your application).

Further details on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) in your country can be had by clicking on the following Links

• Nurses or Midwives who graduated in Sweden
• Nurses or Midwives who graduated in Finland
• Nurses or Midwives who graduated in Denmark
• Nurses or Midwives who graduated in Germany