Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland amend English Language Test Requirements for Registration

April 08, 2020

As per the new amendments, Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland requires an IELTS academic test score of 7 in listening, reading, and speaking module, and a 6.5 in writing module. 

According to the previous requirement, applicants had to achieve IELTS academic test score of 6.5 in reading and listening, and 7 in writing and speaking modules in a single sitting.

Regardless of the recent amendments, the overall IELTS required score remains the same, which is 7.

OET score requirement reflect a similar decrease in the writing module.

As per the new amendment, NMBI requires a minimum OET scores of ‘B’ in listening, reading, and speaking module, and a minimum score of ‘C+’ in writing module. 

As per the previous requirement, applicants had to achieve OET test score of ‘C+’ in reading and listening, and ‘B’ in writing and speaking modules.

Old & New language requirement explained – https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/Language-requirements.pdf

Acceptable language alternatives

There is some flexibility in IELTS or OET scores discussed previously. An applicant may achieve 6.5 or grade C+ in any one of the four modules, other than in the writing module where 6.5 or C+ is the lowest score acceptable.

https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/Language-requirements-1_1.pdf

Combine test score 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 requirement.

The new amendment is applicable to those who have taken their language test in the last two years.

Proof of language competency applies to all applicants for registration with the NMBI, who have qualifications from outside of Ireland to confirm they have the necessary knowledge of English to communicate effectively in their practice.

Applicants who were trained in Ireland, UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are exempted from providing evidence of language competence.

Please note that there is no change to the types of applicants who are subjected to language test requirements. The language test requirement applies to both the EU or EEA, and overseas route. 

Applicants who met the new requirements need not wait to apply for the registration.

Those who have already applied, can be considered under the old or the new language criteria.  Recognising that there are applicants who have recently passed achieving the old requirements, NMBI will accept these results for registration until April 30, 2020.

Both language test scores (IELTS and OET) are valid for two years. Those who have previously applied for registration, and were deemed ineligible on the basis of not meeting the language requirements can be considered under the revised language requirement. 

Registration applications prior to April 30, 2020, will meet the language requirement if they have attained either the old, or the new amended test scores.

All applications submitted on or after May 1, 2020 will be evaluated solely based on the new requirements discussed previously.