OET Exam Eligibility 2024: Age Limit, Qualification, OET Accepted Countries

OET

Raj Vimal
Updated on Jan 22, 2025 13:16 IST

By Raj Vimal, Study Abroad Expert

No candidate will be allowed to appear in the exam without completing OET eligibility. Conducted by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment (CBLA) OET Test is an exclusive English language test that has been designed for health care professionals. The OET exam has been specifically designed for 12 healthcare professions including Occupational Therapy, Dentistry, Nursing, Radiography, Veterinary Science, Medicine, Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, Pharmacy, and Optometry. Having a valid degree to practice as one of the 12 healthcare professions that OET accepts. Other than this, there are some other points under OET eligibility that you should know. In this article, we are going to learn about OET exam eligibility.

OET Eligibility Criteria

Q:   What is the eligibility for OET exam for Indians?

A: 

Here is the point-wise eligibility for OET exam:

  • Age Limit: No age limit has been announced or specified by the CBLA for appearing in the exam.
  • Passport: A valid passport is mandatory to have at the time of exam registration. 

In case, you are planning to appear in the exam, fulfilling eligibility is mandatory.

Q:   How many times is OET conducted in a year?

A: 

In a calendar year, the Occupational English Test in paper mode is conducted 24 times. The OET Computer-Based Test is offered on most days of the month, except Sundays and national holidays. So, you can find a suitable date on the official website, according to your convenience and appear in the exam.

Q:   Do I need a degree to appear for OET Exam?

A: 

There is no official announcement about educational qualification for OET exam. However, it is important for having a medical degree to practice as a medical professionals in USA, UK and other mentioned countries. Otherwise, there is no point to appear in the exam, if you don't want to work or have required qualification to work.

Q:   What is the OET exam for?

A: 

OET test is a special English language proficiency exam for healthcare professionals to work in English-speaking countries like USA, UK, Australia and more. This exam assesses listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills of workforce of medicine sector. This means OET test focuses on the language skills needed for real-world medical situations. For example, interacting with patients, writing medical reports, and understanding medical terminology. 

Q:   How do I book slot for OET exam?

A: 

To make GRE slot booking, you need to follow these steps:

  • Visit the official website of OET and create a MyOET account.
  • Choose your location (Country and city).
  • Select the test type you want to take.
  • Select preferred OET dates and time.
  • Fill in the required personal and professional information.
  • Complete the payment process using a credit or debit card.
  • Review your booking details and confirm to finalize the process.

Q:   I am 18 years old. Am I eligible to sit for OET exam?

A: 

Yes, you are eligible to appear in the Occupational English Test (OET) at the age of 18. According to OET eligibility, there is no fixed age limit. The OET does not have a specific age requirement for candidates. However, the test is designed to assess the English proficiency of healthcare professionals who want to work or study in healthcare-related fields. So, if you do not have the same objective then there is no point to appear in OET exam.

Table of content
  • OET Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria
  • Countries Accepting OET Scores
  • OET 2025 Eligibility for Nurses
  • OET Exam Pattern
  • OET Exam 2025 Preparation Tips
  • OET Exam 2025 Results
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OET Exam 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates looking to appear for the OET exam are required to closely follow the OET eligibility guidelines to be able to register for the OET test. The OET  eligibility guidelines require candidates to

  • Be qualified to register and practice in one of the 12 healthcare professions that OET accepts.
  • Have a valid Indian passport 
  • Demonstrate English communication skills.

OET Eligibility: Age Requirements

CBLA, the conducting body of the OET exam has not mentioned any age limit for the OET exam. There are no age criteria for candidates wanting to appear for the OET exam. Hence, candidates wanting to go abroad to countries that accept OET are required to register for the OET exam on the official website, here: https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/book-oet/. 

OET Eligibility: Education Qualification

Again, CBLA has not laid down any specific educational qualifications required by the candidate to appear for the OET Exam. Hence, as long as the student is looking to work in the healthcare sector and can speak English he/ she is eligible to take the OET exams. Candidates should just note that the OET exam is accepted by healthcare professionals who are looking to work or study in the healthcare sector in Australia, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.

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Commonly asked questions

Q:   Is the OET fee refundable?

A: 

Candidates looking to cancel their OET exam can get a refund on their OET exam fee if they withdraw or cancel their OET exam two days before the start of their first test. If the candidate withdraws or cancels less than two days before the OET test start time they will be entitled to no refund.

Q:   What is the eligibility to appear for the OET test?

A: 

The OET exam is for healthcare professionals who are looking to work or study in the healthcare sector in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. Hence, it is important that all applicants possess in-depth certification in similar fields. There is no set eligibility criteria based on age or school or college level educational requirements, thus, applicants whoa re eligible to apply for healthcare professions can apply for the OET exam. The OET exam scores will make students eligible to apply for admissions.

Q:   How can I register for OET exam?

A: 

To register for the OET exam, you can follow these steps:

  • Visit the official website of OET and create an account
  • Choose Your Test Format (OET on Computer or OET on Paper)
  • Select Your Test Date and Time. You can select OET at home also.
  • Pay the Test Fee
  • Confirm Your Booking

Q:   What is the age limit for taking OET exam?

A: 

There is no age limit to appear in the OET exam. If you fulfil educational qualification criteria then you can appear for the exam. In short, candidates of any age can apply for the exam. However, the exam is specifically designed for healthcare professionals, so applicants must have a medical degree. 

Q:   What is the purpose of OET exam?

A: 

Occupational English Test (OET) is designed to assess the English language communication skills of healthcare professionals who want to register and practice in English-speaking countries such as USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. OET evaluates the listening, reading, writing and speaking skills of a candidate. The objective of the exam is to ensure that the candidate can effectively communicate with patients.

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Countries Accepting OET Scores

Healthcare professionals who are looking to work or study in the healthcare sector in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Egypt, Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America are required to register for the OET to be able to prove their level of English proficiency to be able to deliver superior healthcare. A lot of times, while registering for the OET Exam candidates are often confused about OET exam eligibility. Read on to learn about the OET test eligibility guidelines.

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Commonly asked questions

Q:   Which exam is better among IELTS and OET?

A: 

While both the exams measure the English language abilities of the candidates. It is important to understand the admission requirement before applying for the test. Candidates should keep in mind that while the OET exam is limited to healthcare professionals, the IELTS exam covers a more generic base of students.

Q:   What are the various foreign countries accepting OET score?

A: 

Here is the list of countries where Occupational English Test is accepted to practice as a doctor, nurse or other medical staff:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Egypt
  • Finland
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Maldives
  • Malta
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Samoa
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America








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OET 2025 Eligibility for Nurses

As informed earlier OET scores are recognised by countries for nurses looking to enter the healthcare sector. There is a certain ambiguity revolving around OET eligibility for nurses. Well, nursing is very much part of the OET exams that have been developed specifically for healthcare professionals. Nurses who are looking to enter the healthcare sector are required to score a B in the OET Listening, Reading and Speaking sub-tests and a C+ in Writing. The nurses are required to obtain a minimum score of 350 out of 500 to become accredited nurses in a foreign country. However, nurses looking for exact OET score requirements are required to check the qualification criteria on the official website and then obtain the score in the OET exam. 







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OET Exam Pattern

The OET exam pattern is divided into four sections, the Listening Section, which is for 50 minutes in duration and is made up of 3 parts; the Reading Section, which is for 60 minutes and divided into 3 parts; the Writing Section, which is profession-specific and requires candidates to write a letter of recommendation and is for 45 minutes and finally the last section; the Speaking Section that requires the candidate to enact a setting from the healthcare environment in 20 minutes.

OET Paper Pattern 2025

Below is the OET exam pattern in detail. 

OET Exam Pattern/ Sections

Test Duration

OET Test Description

Listening

40 minutes

The Listening subsection is divided into 3 parts that test the candidates' listening capabilities in various formats.

Reading

60 minutes

The Reading subsection is divided into 3 parts that test the candidate's reading capabilities in various formats.

Writing

45 minutes

The Writing subsection is profession-specific and requires candidates to write a letter of reference.

Speaking

20 minutes

The Writing subsection is profession-specific and requires candidates to enact a roleplay from the healthcare environment.

Also, Read

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions

Q:   How many times is OET conducted in a year?

A: 

In a calendar year, the Occupational English Test in paper mode is conducted 24 times. The OET Computer-Based Test is offered on most days of the month, except Sundays and national holidays. So, you can find a suitable date on the official website, according to your convenience and appear in the exam.

Q:   How is the OET exam scoring pattern?

A: 

In the OET exam, the scores of every sub-test vary between 0 to 500 in increments of 10. it is represented in A, B, C, D, and E. Your numerical score is also converted into a letter grade (A, B, C, D and E). Below, we have mentioned the representation of OET scores:

  • A (450-500) 
  • B (350-440) 
  • C (250-340)
  • D (150-240)
  • E (0-140)

Q:   What is the pattern for OET exam?

A: 

According to the official website of the Occupational English Test, the duration of the OET exam is 2 Hours and 45 Minutes. Here is the detailed OET exam pattern for 2025:

OET Pattern 2025
Reading
  • No. of Questions: 42
  • Time: 60 Minutes 
WritingTime: 45 Minutes
SpeakingTime: 20 Minutes
Listening
  • No. of Questions: 42
  • Time: 40 Minutes 

Q:   Can I take OET exam every month?

A: 

As an Indian student, there is no official limit on how many times you can take the OET exam. If you can secure exam slots on your preferred dates, you can take the Occupational English Test every month. It is advisble to check the official website for exam dates before booking.

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OET Exam 2025 Preparation Tips

Similar to other exam prep, students can choose to study on their own or join a coaching centre to prepare for the OET exam. It is important for candidates The decision lies entirely up to the candidate, as you need to see whether you have enough time and resources for both. Newer methods of studying are gaining popularity, like online OET prep classes. It includes both self-studying and coaching class methods. You join a virtual classroom and you learn in the comfort of your home. To choose the best method to prepare for OET you first need to look at your criteria and decide accordingly. Check out our OET preparation plan for beginners on our website. 

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Commonly asked questions

Q:   How can technology help in OET exam preparation?

A: 

Today, technology can be your perfect partner during exam preparation. In this case,  you can use several online platforms where you can appear in the OET practice test which will give you detailed feedback to identify areas for improvement. 

Other than this, multiple language learning apps and online courses are available. Some are free and many of them offer their premium services at minimal fees. Also, you can get personalized support in the form of virtual tutors. In short, technology is helpful for OET preparation.

Q:   How much time do I need to invest to prepare for OET exam?

A: 

OET exam for medical professionals who want to work in selected english speaking countries. The major objective of the Occupational English Test is to assess the English language proficiency of healthcare. So, the amount of time required for preparation varies depending your current proficiency in English language. If you have a strong foundation in English language or have studied in any English speaking countries, you might be able to prepare in 2-4 weeks with focused practice on the OET format and specific skills. Other students may need 3 to 6 months for the same. 

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OET Exam 2025 Results

Candidates who have successfully appeared for their Occupational English Test (OET) can view their OET test scores after 16 business days from each test date. Candidates are required to enter their OET Login credentials to get access to their online profiles where their OET scores would be published. Furthermore, candidates can also download the hard copy of their OET statement of results from their online profile.

Also, Read

OET to IELTS Score Conversion OET vs IELTS: Which is better?

Candidates looking to understand more about OET exam eligibility can check out our frequently asked questions revolving around OET eligibility, below. 

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Comments

(27)

Hola, teniendo nacionalidad y residencia primaria de Cuba, si voy a un país donde se realice el exámen puedo hacer el OET?

Reply to Indira Borrego Castillo

A

Adil N

5 months ago

I always struggle with the reading part- and be careful of scum and scammers who Are roaming around Facebook trying to get your money and say they can make sure to get a pass for you! I am doing this test for a 3rd time, as I have always failed on the reading section. Good Luck and I hope this OET r

...Read more

Reply to Adil N

A

Abhi Yadav

5 months ago

any one who score 125 score in 2024 please share me

Reply to Abhi Yadav

J

Jessica Jacob

8 months ago

I have written on April 6 till now I haven't received result and it's under final quality assurance check

Reply to Jessica Jacob

N

Navneet

11 months ago

I had given exam on 27 jan 2024 and result was out on 13 feb 2024, but some students including me we received a mail pf final quality assurance but still our result is not out we chat with expert on help desk of oet, they sent same msg and ask for wait for further update even 13 jan student result a

...Read more

Reply to Navneet

J

Jessica Jacob

8 months ago

Have you received the result