There are several exams which you can use to prove your English proficiency for your UK visa application, but the Occupational English Test (OET) is still the only healthcare specific English language test than can make your dream of living and working in the UK a reality.  Here are 5 reasons why the OET is your best route to working in the UK: 

1. The Occupational English Test (OET) is accepted by NMC, GMC and UKVI 

The OET exam is accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the General Medical Council (GMC), as well as various other Royal Colleges for registration. OET Grade B is required.  The OET is also accepted by UKVI for your Tier 2 (employment) visa to enable you to legally work in the UK. That means there is no need to sit an additional English exam, such as IELTS. 

2. The language is specifically for healthcare professionals

Unlike IELTs, which is geared towards more academic/university use, the OET has been designed specifically with healthcare professionals in mind. There are specific papers for different profession, i.e. an exam paper specifically for Dentists or for Doctors.  This is particularly important as the scenarios described in the exam will be familiar to your profession, i.e. listening to a patient describe his symptoms, or reading patient notes. Whereas with other General English tests, the topics of the language could include anything from global warming to a study on dolphins! 

3. Prepare for success in your new UK career

Our OET Medical English courses are designed not only to prepare you to pass the exam, but to prepare you for work in an English-speaking medical environment.  Foyle International specifically prepare nurses to work in the UK. Our International Nursing Programme combines OET preparation with the Route to Employment programme – a course which provides you with an 8 month paid work placement in healthcare here in the UK.  For further preparation to work as a nurse in the UK, check out our Route to Employment programme, where we prepare nurses after OET to take an additional 2 qualifications here in Derry (OSCE 1 and OSCE 2), to work as a Band 5 nurse in the UK.

4. UK employers prefer OET to other General English Tests

The OET exam is preferred by employers as they can see the value of improving English language specifically for a medical environment, and many hospitals believe that the higher pass rate in OET gives nurses a greater chance of achieving the desired grade in the first sitting, saving the candidate time and money, and allowing the hospital to recruit employees faster! 

5. OET will increase your confidence

Many candidates who take the OET exam feel it has given them much more confidence in their English language, compared to other General English tests. This is likely because the language and vocabulary used in OET exams and preparation is actually applicable to their day-to-day working life.

Want more information? Get in touch with aine@foyle.eu or download an application form here.