Occupational English tests

12 September 2013
Volume 29 · Issue 5

The highly regarded Occupational English Test (OET) for healthcare professionals is now more accessible, with tests to be scheduled ten times a year in 2014 (up from seven in 2013), and a reduction in the cost of the test for many candidates.

From October this year OET candidates will now pay the same AUD$580.00 (£340.00) test fee, regardless of the location in which they take the test.  Candidates previously paid a higher fee if they were outside Australia.

The changes to OET have been made as part of an enhanced focus on quality and accessibility by the newly formed Cambridge Box Hill Language Assessment, a joint venture between the University of Cambridge’s language assessment arm, Cambridge English, and Melbourne’s Box Hill Institute. 

Sujata Stead, CEO of Cambridge Box Hill Language Assessment, said improving accessibility of OET was an important element in the plan to build the language test’s international profile.

“This test is important because it focuses on the language needed by healthcare personnel, across a range of specialisms and contexts.

Our goal is for OET to be the leading English-language qualification of choice for health and medical professionals around the world.”

OET is currently used by the state and national governing bodies of the following health and medical professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science.

Tests are currently available at venues worldwide, as listed on www.occupationalenglishtest.org, with the number of venues expected to increase significantly over the coming months.

Upcoming test dates are:

·         Saturday - 18 January 2014

·         Saturday - 22 February 2014

·         Saturday - 29 March 2014

·         Saturday - 03 May 2014

·         Sunday  - 01 June 2014

·         Saturday - 05 July 2014

·         Saturday - 09 August 2014

·         Saturday - 13 September 2014

·         Saturday - 18 October 2014

·         Saturday - 29 November 2014