1. You will have to demonstrate your ability to read, write, listen, and speak in the English language through the submission of language proficiency test results from an approved testing vendor, barring certain English Language Evidence Pathways (see below).
2. The approved English Language Testing Vendors and the required scores are:
   • Occupational English Test (OET)
     • For results prior to August 2018: you must achieve a minimum score of B for each band: reading, writing, listening and speaking. C+ is not considered a passing grade.
     • For results after September 2018: you must achieve a minimum score of 350 for reading, listening, and speaking (C+ (300 – 340) is not considered a passing grade). For writing, you must achieve a minimum score of 300.
   • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
     • Only the Academic Module is accepted.
     • You must achieve a minimum score of 7 for reading, listening, and speaking. For writing, you must achieve a minimum score of 6.5.

You can achieve the minimum score in the English language tests over more than one sitting, however the required score must be met within 12 months of the first sitting of the test and met within three years of your CGFNS report being transmitted to Nursing Council.

English Language Evidence Pathway

You may be eligible to apply for one or more of the following alternate English Language Evidence Pathways if:

• Your education that led to registration as a nurse was taught and examined in English in the United Kingdom, Singapore, Ireland, Canada, or the United States of America.
  The Council may require you to provide evidence that you completed your nursing education in English, for example, a transcript from your education provider.
• You have current nursing registration in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, or the United States of America that required you to pass an English language test. The Council may require you to provide evidence of this.

IQNs who meet one or more of the above criteria will be invited to apply for an alternate English language evidence pathway electronically. CGFNS will submit this request to NCNZ with the CVS-NCNZ program report and NCNZ will approve or decline the request.

Note: If CGFNS does not receive evidence that you have passed English Proficiency Testing within a year of your application and you are not eligible to apply for an alternate English evidence pathway, your order will expire.