To support a better understanding of the new International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Occupational English Test (OET) requirements, we copy below some answers to commonly asked questions.
1. Who does the language test apply to?
Proof of language competency applies to all applicants for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland who have qualifications from outside of Ireland. All applicants have to confirm that they have the necessary knowledge of English to communicate effectively in their practice.
Those who trained through the medium of English in Ireland, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are exempt from providing evidence of language competence.
Please note that there is no change to the types of applicant who are subject to language test requirements. The language test requirement applies to all applicants either via the EU/EEA route or overseas route.
2. If I do not qualify for an exemption do I need to do a language test and
achieve required scores to register?
Yes
3. Can I combine the results of a number of tests to achieve the required
result?
Your language test scores must be achieved in a single sitting. This means that an applicant cannot combine the results of two or more tests to meet the results above.
4. Do I have to achieve the required individual score for each
subset/component?
There is some flexibility in the scores listed above. An applicant may achieve 6.5 or grade C+ in any one of the four subtests/components other than in the writing subtest/component where 6.5 or C+ is the lowest score acceptable. See examples below.
The following three alternatives are acceptable to the 6.5 or C+ in writing:
Alternative 1 – 6.5 or C+ in Listening
Subtest/Component
|
Minimum IELTS score
|
Minimum OET Score
|
Listening
|
6.5
|
C+
|
Reading
|
7.0
|
B
|
Writing
|
7.0
|
B
|
Speaking
|
7.0
|
B
|
Overall
|
7.0
|
n/a
|
Alternative 2 – 6.5 or C+ in Reading
Subtest/Component
|
Minimum IELTS score
|
Minimum OET Score
|
Listening
|
7.0
|
B
|
Reading
|
6.5
|
C+
|
Writing
|
7.0
|
B
|
Speaking
|
7.0
|
B
|
Overall
|
7.0
|
n/a
|
Alternative 3 – 6.5 or C+ in Speaking
Subtest/Component
|
Minimum IELTS score
|
Minimum OET Score
|
Listening
|
7.0
|
B
|
Reading
|
7.0
|
B
|
Writing
|
7.0
|
B
|
Speaking
|
6.5
|
C+
|
Overall
|
7.0
|
n/a
|
5. When do these new protocols come into practice?
Applicants who meet the amended requirements do not need to wait to apply for registration.
Those who have already applied can be considered under the old or the new protocols. Recognising that there are applicants who have recently passed, achieving the old requirements, NMBI will accept these results
for registration up until April 30, 2020.
6. Can I benefit from these new protocols if I did my test a year ago?
Both language test scores (IELTS and OET) are valid for two years. We can apply these new protocols to an IELTS or OET test result. Those who previously applied for registration who were deemed ineligible on the basis of not meeting the language requirements can be considered under the revised requirements.
7. Who verifies my test result?
The NMBI verifies all language test score results directly with the test provider.
8. Can I choose which protocols I want to be evaluated against (old or new)?
Those who applied for registration prior to April 30, 2020 will have met the language requirement if they have either the old or the new amended test scores.
All applications received after May 01, 2020 will be considered solely under the new requirements specified above.
9. When was this review of language requirements for the Irish
register conducted, did you do it in response to COIVD-19?
It is good practice to regularly review all our protocols. Our language requirements
were last reviewed in 2018 and it was agreed at this point that we would review them again in 12 months. The amendments that we are putting in place in April 2020 are the result of research conducted during 2019. We are in the fortunate position of being able to apply them now when they could benefit more nurses and midwives entering the system.
10. How was the review conducted?
During 2019, NMBI undertook a review of international research and also considered recent amendments made by other similar professional regulators in Ireland and overseas, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK.
11. Will you monitor these amendments and could they change again?
We have agreed with all stakeholders that there will be a review of these new amendments in 12 months. If we agree collectively that the amendments are positive we will maintain them, if however there is evidence that the amendments have compromised practice we will initiate a comprehensive review that may result in further changes.