The ability to communicate effectively in English is crucial to working as a health professional in the UK.
We require evidence that all applicants applying through the international route meet our English language proficiency standards.
Qualifying through your primary qualification
If you have gained the qualification which first enabled you to practise in a country where English is the predominant language, you don't have to provide any further documentation on your language proficiency.
We take primary qualifications from our list of qualifying countries as evidence that you are able to practise effectively using English.
-
- American Samoa (United States)
- Anguilla (United Kingdom)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia (includes dependant territories)
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda (United Kingdom)
- British overseas territories (general)
- British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
- Canada
- Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)
- Cook Islands (New Zealand)
- Dominica
- Falkland Islands (United Kingdom)
- Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
- Grenada
- Guam (United States)
- Guernsey (United Kingdom)
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Isle of Man (United Kingdom)
- Jamaica
- Jersey (United Kingdom)
- Kenya
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Montserrat (United Kingdom)
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Niue (New Zealand)
- Northern Mariana Islands (United States)
- Palau
- Puerto Rico (United States)
- St Helena (United Kingdom)
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tokelau (New Zealand)
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (United States)
- USA
If your primary qualification is not from one of the qualifying countries
You must provide a certificate from a recognised English language proficiency test that shows you meet our required scores to evidence your English language proficiency.
We accept certificates from the below three test providers. The certificate must be no more than two years old when we receive your application.
We accept
- IELTS Academic
- IELTS General tests
- UKVI and non-UKVI versions of the test
The test needs to be taken at an official test centre and not at home.
Minimum score
|
All professions except speech and language therapists |
Speech and language therapists |
|
7.0 with no elements below 6.5 |
8.0 with no element below 7.5 |
IELTS one-skill retake
We accept one-skill retakes for applicants using the IELTS test, if:
- the retake is done within 6 months of the original test; and
- the retake results are provided within the test report, alongside the original results.
The retake results are valid for the same two-year period as your original results.
We do not accept TOEFL test scores when tests are taken in the United Kingdom.
Minimum score
|
All professions except speech and language therapists |
Speech and language therapists |
|
100/120 |
118/120 |
We accept profession specific OET tests for the below listed professions if they meet the minimum scores.
Profession |
OET test |
Minimum score |
|
Chiropodists/Podiatrists |
Podiatry |
1400 with no elements below 300 |
|
Dietitians |
Dietary |
1400 with no elements below 300 |
|
Occupational therapists |
Occupational therapy |
1400 with no elements below 300 |
|
Speech and Language Therapists |
Speech and Language |
1800 with no elements below 400 |
|
Physiotherapists |
Physiotherapy |
1400 with no elements below 300 |
|
Radiographers |
Radiography |
1400 with no elements below 300 |