Fantastic news for qualified overseas medical professionals in the UK. As of 8 February 2018, Doctors trained internationally will now be able to register to work in Ireland and the UK by taking the Occupational English Test (OET).
In November of last year, the Nursing and Midwifery Council announced that they are also accepting the OET exam for registration in the UK (much to the relief of those who have already tried to tackle the challenging IELTS exam!)
The Occupational English Test is designed specifically for medical professionals and will target the professional’s knowledge of medicine and healthcare based topics.
Despite the OET test price being a little higher, the OET is often a much better choice for candidates due to it’s decreased difficulty and it’s focus on healthcare scenarios and questions.
When asked, OET CEO Sujata Stead sated: “What sets OET apart from other tests is that it’s designed for
healthcare. We use real communication scenarios, similar to the ones healthcare professionals encounter
every day”.
“For example, a doctor’s speaking skills will be assessed via a face-to-face role play using a typical
scenario, such as a patient consultation where trained interlocutors play the part of a patient or carer.”
He continued: “We are delighted that both the GMC and the MC are giving wider
choice to overseas doctors seeking to register and work in the UK and Ireland. Communication is vitally
important in delivering safe and quality care, and OET as a healthcare-specific test, ensures that doctors
who have achieved the required level can communicate effectively in their workplace”.
The Occupational English Test is available at numerous testing centres throughout the UK. Contact us for further information.
To quickly pass the OET exam, why not try our OET exam preparation course with qualified English teachers?
Let us know what you think of the announcement in the comments box below.