Looking to practice nursing or medicine in a foreign country? Then the first thing you have to clear is the English language test. In the case of most health care practitioners, it is the OET test. The first question that comes to mind when thinking about an OET exam is always the same: When is the test, and how can I register?
Our guide discusses in detail all about the OET exam dates 2026, including the complete OET registration process 2026, exam fees, eligibility, the exam pattern, results, and the required OET score. For those searching for OET exam dates 2026 in India, all the relevant information is available here.
Starting off with the basics, followed by the dates.
What is the OET?
The term OET refers to the Occupational English Test. It measures the language skills of healthcare professionals. OET is administered by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, a not-for-profit organization. OET is different from other English tests in the sense that all sections use realistic healthcare contexts. You write a referral letter. You listen to a patient consultation. You speak in a roleplay with a patient. And that is why the nurses and physicians tend to find it more intuitive than any other English test.
There are four skills measured in four sub-tests that are Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The total time taken for the Listening, Reading and Writing tests is about 2 hours and 45 minutes, while the Speaking test can be taken either on the same day or close to that.
In other words, the test results are recognized by all major hospitals, universities, and professional councils across the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and some other countries. And if you have such an intention, then one test will get you in all the way.
OET Exam Dates 2026 in India
Now the main part. The OET is conducted in two formats in India, and each format has its own calendar.
OET on Paper is held about twice every month, usually on Saturdays. OET on Computer is held far more often, around 10 to 11 times every month at test centres. So in a single year, you get well over 100 chances to take the test. There is also OET at Home, but note this clearly.
OET on Paper Dates 2026 (By Month)
Given below is the month-wise schedule of OET on paper dates 2026 in India. OET paper-based tests are scheduled for Saturday, twice a month. The early dates of 2026 announced by OET include:
| Month | Test Dates (Saturday) |
| January 2026 | 10 January, 24 January |
| February 2026 | 7 February, 21 February |
| March 2026 | 7 March, 28 March |
| April 2026 | Two Saturday dates |
| May 2026 | Two Saturday dates |
| June 2026 | Two Saturday dates |
| July to December 2026 | Two Saturday dates each month |
One important detail many candidates miss. Not every paper date is open for every profession. Nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, radiography, and veterinary science can attend the first paper session of the month. But for the second one, only nursing and medicine attend. So check the profession list before you pick a date.
OET on Computer Dates 2026
The OET on computer dates 2026 are spread across the month, so finding a slot is easier. Computer test dates take place on several days per month, conducted at authorized test centres located in India. Metropolitan cities such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad conduct tests regularly.
As dates may vary from one city to another and from one test venue to another, the safest way to know about the availability of dates is to log into the official website of OET and select India as your location.
Booking Deadlines You Should Not Miss
It is here that people end up wasting their money and time. The following is the date when you can no longer book for the OET test:
- OET On Paper: This closes about 24 days before the exam date.
- OET On Computer: This closes 7 days before the test date.
Therefore, when you ask yourself, what is the last day to register for OET, your answer will depend on the mode in which you choose to sit the test. For a computer test, a week ahead is the cut-off, but do not wait that long. OET exam centres in India fill up fast. OET test centres in Kerala and Punjab are known to get fully booked two to three months in advance because of the high number of nurses applying from these states.
How Many Times is OET Conducted in a Year?
A lot, honestly. With two paper dates and about 11 computer dates every month, the OET runs more than 140 times a year worldwide. You will never be short of dates. What you might be short of is a seat at your preferred centre, which is why early OET slot booking matters more than the date itself.
OET Exam Eligibility 2026
The good news first. The OET eligibility criteria 2026 are simple. There is no minimum educational qualification, no minimum score from your degree, and no age limit set by OET itself. Test centres generally expect candidates to be 18 or above.
The real condition is your profession. OET is open only to people from these 12 healthcare professions:
- Nursing
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Radiography
- Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Podiatry
- Speech Pathology
- Veterinary Science
What, therefore, are the requirements for writing the OET test for nurses? As long as you are a nursing student or a nurse who plans to work/study in an English-speaking nation, you can sign up. You simply select Nursing as your profession during booking, and your Writing and Speaking tests will be based on nursing scenarios. The same logic applies to OET for doctors and all other listed professions.
Another requirement would be having a valid passport since it is the only accepted identity proof on the test date in most places, so try getting one at the earliest if you haven’t got it already.
OET Exam Pattern 2026
The OET exam pattern 2026 consists of four tests, out of which two are common to all students while the other two vary according to your field.
Listening (about 45 minutes): Same for all professions. Three parts with 42 questions. You hear consultations, workplace talks, and presentations on healthcare topics.
Reading (60 minutes): Same for all professions. Three parts with 42 questions, based on healthcare texts like guidelines, policy documents, and journal extracts.
Writing (45 minutes): Profession-specific. You write a letter, usually a referral letter, based on case notes. A nurse writes a nursing letter, a doctor writes a medical one.
Speaking (about 20 minutes): Profession-specific. Two roleplays where you play your professional role and the interlocutor plays a patient or carer.
The content does not change whether the computer-based test (CBT) or paper-based test is used. Only the mode changes. So which is better, computer-based or paper-based? It comes down to comfort. If you type fast and want quicker results, go for a computer. For those who find pen and paper a better tool for thinking and writing, paper is just as good. The scores will be graded the same either way.
OET Grading Scale and Scoring System
The OET grading scale has two layers, and understanding both will save you confusion later.
First, every sub-test is scored on a numeric 0 to 500 scale. Second, each numeric score maps to a letter grade from A to E:
| Grade | Score Range | What It Means |
| A | 450 – 500 | Very high level of English |
| B | 350 – 440 | High level, the most common requirement |
| C+ | 300 – 340 | Good level, accepted for some requirements |
| C | 200 – 290 | Moderate level |
| D | 100 – 190 | Below requirement |
| E | 0 – 90 | Low level |
There are no passes or fails in OET. Instead, you receive four different scores, with each test being marked separately. The majority of regulatory authorities require a specific grade for each of the sub-tests rather than an average. The magic number to achieve in OET is 350, which corresponds to Grade B. Hit 350 in each skill and most doors open.
OET Registration Process 2026: Step by Step
The process will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes, provided that you have your documents ready beforehand. Here is how you can enroll for the OET 2026:
- Step 1: Create your myOET account. Go to the official OET website and sign up with your email. This OET login is where you will book tests, upload documents, and later check results.
- Step 2: Select your test format. OET on Paper or OET on Computer at a test venue.
- Step 3: Pick your location and date. Enter India, choose your nearest test city, and check the available dates. You can book the next test or any of the next few sittings if you want more preparation time.
- Step 4: Select your profession. Pick from the 12 professions. Choose carefully because your Writing and Speaking material depends on this.
- Step 5: Enter personal information. Your name should be entered just as it appears in your passport. The smallest misspelling can cause serious issues on your test day.
- Step 6: Upload your documents. A clear passport copy and a recent photograph as per OET guidelines.
- Step 7: Pay the fee and confirm. Pay online by card. You will get a confirmation email with your test details. Keep it safe.
That is the entire OET booking 2026 process. Simple, but do it early. The best slots disappear quickly, and rebooking later costs both money and momentum.
OET Exam Fees in India 2026
What will be the cost of OET in India in 2026? The fee is AUD 587, which converts to around INR 32,000 to 33,000 based on the currency conversion at the time when you pay. This means that there is no variation in the OET exam fees in India among the 12 professions; the fee includes all four parts of the test.
A few money-related points worth knowing:
- The fee is paid at the time of booking, by credit or debit card.
- There is no discount for retakes. Every attempt costs the full fee.
- If you cancel well before the test, usually at least a week ahead, you can get a refund as per the cancellation refund policy. Cancel late or skip the test, and you lose the money.
- Rescheduling is possible from your myOET dashboard. Change your date early and you avoid the extra OET reschedule fee that applies to late changes.
Because the OET exam fees 2026 are on the higher side, the smart approach is to book only when your preparation is on track. One well-prepared attempt is cheaper than two rushed ones.
OET Results 2026 and Result Dates
Now for the part everyone refreshes their inbox for. The OET result date depends on your test format:
- OET on Computer: results in about 10 business days.
- OET on Paper: results in about 17 business days.
So when will OET results be released for your test? Count business days from your test date using the timelines above. An email will be sent to you when results are available. You may access your scores through your myOET portal login. Your test report form is now issued electronically, and verification can be done online. Regulatory bodies like the NMC can also access your result directly when you share your details with them.
One more common question. Is OET valid for 2 years? Yes. The validity of OET results is usually two years from the date you took the test. However, different organizations have other policies, so it will be best to consult the relevant board on which you intend to register. In case you are nearing the expiry date of your results, plan your application accordingly.
OET Score Requirements by Country 2026
In different countries, in different boards, with slight differences in the requirement rules. Below are the important OET score requirements for India Healthcare Professionals 2026 according to their respective nations.
- United Kingdom: The OET score for NMC UK Registration 2026 is grade B (350+) in Listening, Reading, and Speaking sub-tests, while the OET Writing is graded C+ (300+). NMC, i.e., the Nursing and Midwifery Council, accepts combined scores from two attempts within six months provided that both attempts meet some minimum score requirements. For Doctors, GMC requires grade B in all subtests.
- Australia: AHPRA, which is the health boards for Nurses, Doctors, and other health professionals in Australia, requires a minimum grade B (350) for each of the sub-tests.
- Ireland: NMBI requires nurses to have grade B in Listening, Reading, and Speaking subtests, but C+ in the Writing test.
- New Zealand: NCNZ requires 350 in each sub-test.
- USA: Acceptance varies by state nursing board and by bodies like CGFNS. Grade B is usually the standard if you use OET as proof. Always make sure to double-check this with your individual state board before booking.
- Canada & The Middle East: Some of the regulatory bodies and companies have started accepting OET results with the standard being Grade B.
The pattern is clear. Whatever country you choose, Grade B is the score to train for. Aim for 400+, and the requirement takes care of itself.
OET vs IELTS: A Quick Word for Nurses
It happens quite often that people find it hard to choose one option over another. This is a summary of OET VS IELTS for Nurses. IELTS is a test of general English proficiency. OET has been designed on the basis of experience within the hospital. Every reading passage, every letter, and every role-play has come from healthcare. As you can see, everything here is related to your work experience in the hospital. The OET costs more, yes. But for healthcare professionals, it usually feels like the fairer test.
Conclusion: Book Early, Prepare Smart
To sum up the essentials. The OET exam dates 2026 give you plenty of options, with paper tests twice a month and computer tests almost every week across India. The fee is AUD 587, the booking closes 24 days before paper tests and 7 days before computer tests, and results arrive in 10 to 17 business days. Grade B in each skill is the target for the UK, Australia, Ireland, and most other countries.
The dates are not the hard part. The score is. And that is where the right OET preparation changes everything.
Get OET-Ready with Tiju’s Academy
If you are serious about clearing OET in your first or next attempt, train with people who do only this. Tiju’s Academy is widely rated among the best OET online classes in Kerala, trusted by nurses and doctors across India and the Gulf. As a leading OET coaching centre in Kerala, we offer OET-specific training for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, with profession-specific roleplays, letter-writing practice with correction and feedback, regular mock tests, and one-on-one trainer guidance.
What makes the best OET academy in Kerala different is the method. Our classrooms run on a set of signature techniques you will not find anywhere else: Medscriba for individual writing sessions, Lexplorer for vocabulary building, (EC)² for clear and empathetic communication, Phrasiology Jam, Tuning Threshold for listening, Bandorium tip sessions by module heads, Neurosync braingym activities, Thursquest mock tests every Thursday, OETIENT orientation, AOA accent-oriented approach, EPIC interactive classrooms, and Rendering Boot translation classes for speaking. Each addresses a particular deficiency and altogether will help you develop from your present stage to an assured Grade B and above.
No matter if you are searching for a convenient OET online course for nurses in Kerala or traditional classroom-based training, we have a batch tailored to your shift requirements. New batches are starting soon, and early enrollments get special fee offers.
Your 2026 test date is waiting. Book a free demo class with Tiju’s Academy today and walk into your OET exam fully prepared.
Contact Tiju’s Academy now to grab the current admission offer and start your OET preparation today.
