Nurses heading to New Zealand: PTE won't count, and your test scores must meet a 12-month rule

If you are an internationally qualified nurse planning to register in New Zealand, the wrong English test can cost you months and a test fee you cannot get back. The Nursing Council of New Zealand accepts only two tests, sets a minimum for every skill, and puts a time limit on combining results from different sittings. This article explains exactly what the Council asks for, how the 12-month rule works when you sit more than once, and how to plan your preparation so one weak skill does not hold up your registration.

The two tests the Nursing Council accepts

The Nursing Council of New Zealand sets its own English language requirements for internationally qualified nurses. Its approved tests are the Occupational English Test (OET) and IELTS Academic. It does not accept PTE.

That last point matters. PTE is widely used for visas, so many nurses assume it will work for registration too. For the Nursing Council, it will not. If you already hold a PTE result for a visa, you still need OET or IELTS Academic for your registration. Read the requirements on the Nursing Council's English language page before you book anything.

IELTS Academic, not General Training

IELTS comes in two versions. The Council names IELTS Academic. A General Training result is a different test, so check the module before you pay. If you are unsure of the difference, see which IELTS version a visa, course or registration needs.

The scores you need in each skill

The Council sets a minimum score for each skill, not just one overall number. Every skill has to reach its minimum.

For OET, the Council needs at least 350 for reading, listening and speaking and at least 300 for writing. For IELTS Academic, it needs at least 7 for reading, listening and speaking and at least 6.5 for writing.

What the OET numbers mean

Each OET sub-test is reported on a scale from 0 to 500 in ten-point steps, and each score maps to a letter grade from A (highest) to E (lowest). OET explains its results and scoring in full. Grade B covers scores from 350 to 440, so the Council's minimum for reading, listening and speaking is the bottom of grade B. Writing has a lower minimum, at 300.

OET has four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Listening and Reading are the same for every candidate, while Writing and Speaking are profession specific. As a nurse, your writing task and your speaking role plays are set in nursing situations.

The 12-month rule for more than one sitting

This is the rule nurses most often miss. The Council allows you to reach the required scores over more than one sitting, but the scores must be achieved within 12 months of your first sitting of the test.

In practice, that means the clock starts on the day you first sit. If you meet three skills at the first sitting and the fourth at a later one, the later sitting has to fall inside those 12 months.

Example (fictional): Grace sits OET in February. She reaches the minimum in Reading, Listening and Speaking, but her Writing result is below the minimum. She plans a second sitting for May, well inside the 12 months from February, and spends the weeks between practising nursing letters. If she waited until the following March, the February results could no longer be combined with the new one.

Check the exact wording on the Nursing Council's page before you plan a second sitting, because the Council decides how it applies the rule to your application.

OET or IELTS Academic: how to choose for New Zealand

Both tests are accepted, so the choice is about which one suits you. If you are deciding between them for more than one country, our article on choosing between OET and IELTS as a nurse compares the formats in more detail. For New Zealand on its own, these questions usually decide it:

1. Which writing task suits you? OET Writing is one letter task in a healthcare setting: 45 minutes in total, with 5 minutes of reading time and 40 minutes of writing. IELTS Academic Writing is a general academic task. Many nurses find a referral or discharge letter closer to their daily work.
2. Where are you weakest? Look at your last practice results skill by skill. The test where your weakest skill sits most comfortably above the minimum is usually the safer choice.
3. Do you need the result for another regulator too? If you might also register in another country, check that regulator's own requirements first. For the UK, see the NMC English requirements for IELTS and OET.
4. When can you sit, and how soon do you need results? Test dates and result times differ by test and by test centre. Plan backwards from when you want to apply.

A study plan built around the per-skill minimum

Because every skill must reach its own minimum, a strong total does not help you if one skill is short. Plan your study around your weakest skill.

Step 1: find your starting point

Do one full practice set in each skill under timed conditions. Write down each result separately, not just an average.

Step 2: give the weakest skill most of your time

For many nurses that is Writing. Practise one full letter a few times a week under the real time limit, then review it against the marking criteria: purpose, the right case notes, a clear structure and accurate language.

Step 3: keep the stronger skills warm

A short listening or reading set every day keeps your speed up without taking time from your weak skill.

Step 4: book when your practice results are steady

One good practice score can be luck. Book the real test when your practice results in every skill are steadily at or above the Council's minimum.

PractiseNow has OET Listening Parts A-C and Reading Parts A-C for every profession, plus clinical letters and role-plays for nursing and medicine. On PractiseNow, every spoken or written answer gets an estimated score, the key ideas you covered and missed, and line-by-line corrections you can practise straight away. These are practice estimates, not official results. The PractiseNow free plan gives you the first 3 Starter sets and the first Builder set of every task type in your test, plus 3 AI credits. You can see the tests you can practise or compare the passes.

After the test: plan the rest of your application

Your English result is one part of a longer process. While you prepare, keep your nursing CV ready, with your registration and your English test result clearly listed. Build AI CV has a guide-led editor with sections for language tests and work rights. Start early, because registration steps take time, and keep copies of every result you receive.

Ready to see where you stand in each skill? Start practising free.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Nursing Council of New Zealand accept PTE?

No. The Council's approved tests are OET and IELTS Academic, and it does not accept PTE.

Can I combine OET results from two sittings?

The Council allows the required scores to be reached over more than one sitting, as long as they are achieved within 12 months of your first sitting. Confirm the details on the Council's page before you rely on it.

Is IELTS General Training accepted for nursing registration in New Zealand?

The Council names IELTS Academic. Check the module on your booking so you do not sit the wrong version.

How long is an OET result valid?

OET has no global validity period. Each organisation that accepts OET decides how long it accepts results, so check the Council's own rules.

Last checked: 28 October 2026 against the official pages linked above. Test rules and score requirements change: confirm on the official pages before you book or apply.