Future Perfect Health CEO Neil Barklem welcomed news released by OET on 4 September that The Nursing and Midwifery Council has announced it will accept results from OET on a computer at test venues and OET@Home, OET’s new computer-based English language test which can be taken from home.
Overseas qualified nurses, midwives and nursing associates who want to join the UK register have to prove their English language skills through either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Occupational English Test (OET), or a pre-registration nurse, midwife, or nursing associate qualification which was taught and examined in English.
OET will now offer candidates the option to take their test from home, using their own computer. The OET@Home test will use the same format and material as those taken at test venues.
Future Perfect Health CEO Neil Barklem welcomed this news released by OET on 4 September:
“We have a number of groups – particularly our healthcare professionals based in Ghana, who will benefit a great deal from this development. At the moment, our OET participants need to travel to Lagos to take their OET exams – The total driving time is around 10 hours from Accra to Lagos by road, a total of 485 km, one way. Also, with COVID19 outbreaks, the borders close at short notice and for long periods of time. So, OET@Home will really boost the uptake of new learners for us – and of course really help learners in developing countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, especially those from rural areas.”
Emma Broadbent, Director of Professional Regulation for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said:
“Overseas nursing and midwifery professionals are an essential and valued part of the UK workforce, so I am pleased we are able to offer greater flexibility for candidates to demonstrate they meet our English language standards.”
Sujata Stead, CEO of OET, said:
“I am delighted that the NMC will accept OET results from OET on computer at test venues and at home. The past six months have been challenging for OET nurses world-wide and having a multi-modal approach to test delivery with paper based and computer based testing at venues and home will give them greater choice, convenience and the confidence to achieve their dreams of working in the United Kingdom.
“The pandemic has further highlighted the need for foreign-educated nurses with the communication skills in English to provide high quality and safe care, and we at OET look forward to facilitating their integration into the UK workforce.”
Background information
- OET@Home bookings will open in later this month – more information is available here.
- There will now be three options for candidates to take OET – OET on paper, OET on computer at a test venues and the home–based OET@Home.