AHPRA English Test Requirements 2026: What Actually Changed (IELTS, PTE, OET, TOEFL, Cambridge)

Quick Facts: AHPRA English Test Changes, April 2026

The required proficiency level has NOT changed — only the score numbers on some tests were recalibrated
IELTS Academic is completely unchanged: overall 7.0, Listening/Reading/Speaking ≥7.0, Writing ≥6.5
PTE Academic overall dropped from 66 to 63, but Speaking jumped from 66 to 76
OET switched from letter grades (B/C+) to a 0–500 numeric scale
TOEFL iBT overall dropped from 94 to 91, Speaking slightly up from 23 to 24
Cambridge C1 overall dropped from 185 to 178, but Speaking jumped from 185 to 194
Cambridge C2 unchanged
Cutoff date: tests taken on or before 22 April 2026 use old Table 1; on or after 23 April 2026 use new Table 2

What This Policy Actually Means for Nursing Applicants

On 23 April 2026, AHPRA and the 15 National Boards adopted updated minimum scores for English tests accepted for health practitioner registration. The changes reflect new score concordance research published by each test provider. AHPRA explicitly states: “These changes do not change the level of proficiency required for registration.”

In plain English: the score numbers changed because the test providers say “a 76 on the new PTE scale reflects the same speaking ability as a 66 on the old scale.” The underlying English standard — what AHPRA expects you to be able to do in a clinical setting — has not moved.

For nursing and midwifery applicants, this matters because the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standard references the same accepted tests. The transition policy applies uniformly across all 16 regulated health professions.

Full Old vs New Score Comparison

IELTS Academic — No Change

IELTS Academic is the only major test where every single score threshold stayed the same across Table 1 and Table 2. This is a critical fact because some online sources have incorrectly claimed IELTS requirements increased.

Overall: 7.0 (unchanged)
Listening: 7.0 (unchanged)
Reading: 7.0 (unchanged)
Writing: 6.5 (unchanged)
Speaking: 7.0 (unchanged)
Two-sitting floor: no individual band below 6.5 (unchanged)

IELTS Academic must be taken at a test centre (paper or computer). Online/Indicator versions are not accepted.

PTE Academic — Overall Down, Speaking Way Up

PTE Academic saw the most dramatic individual skill change of any test. The overall score dropped, but Speaking shot up 10 points.

Overall: 66 → 63
Listening: 66 → 58
Reading: 66 → 59
Writing: 56 → 60
Speaking: 66 → 76

The Speaking jump from 66 to 76 is the single largest change across all six tests. If you are preparing for PTE Academic, rebalancing your study time toward Speaking is now essential. The two-sitting floor also adjusted: Speaking floor rose from 56 to 66.

OET — Letter Grades Replaced by Numbers

The OET underwent a scoring system overhaul. Instead of the familiar A/B/C+/C/D/E letter grades, the new system uses a 0–500 numeric scale.

Old scores (Table 1, tests ≤ 22 April 2026):

Listening: B
Reading: B
Writing: C+
Speaking: B
Two-sitting floor: no component below C+

New scores (Table 2, tests ≥ 23 April 2026):

Listening: 350
Reading: 360
Writing: 350
Speaking: 360
Two-sitting floor: Listening 320 / Reading 340 / Writing 350 / Speaking 350

Grade B maps approximately to 350 on the new scale. Grade C+ maps to roughly 300–340. Any profession-specific OET test is accepted — not just the Nursing sub-test.

TOEFL iBT — Slight Overall Drop

Overall: 94 → 91
Listening: 24 → 22
Reading: 24 → 22
Writing: 24 → 23
Speaking: 23 → 24

The pattern mirrors PTE: overall and receptive skills dropped slightly, but the productive skill (Speaking) went up.

Cambridge C1 Advanced — Speaking Skyrockets

Overall: 185 → 178
Listening: 185 → 175
Reading: 185 → 179
Writing: 176 → 180
Speaking: 185 → 194

Cambridge C1’s Speaking hike (+9 points) is nearly as dramatic as PTE’s. The C1 Writing score also went up (176→180), while Listening and Reading dropped. Cambridge C1 must be taken at a test centre; at-home versions are not accepted.

Cambridge C2 Proficiency — No Change

Like IELTS, Cambridge C2 Proficiency is completely unchanged between Table 1 and Table 2.

Transition Rules: Which Table Applies to You

The cutoff date is 22 April 2026. Here is every scenario:

Scenario A: One test, taken ≤ 22 April 2026 → Table 1 (old scores) applies.

Scenario B: One test, taken ≥ 23 April 2026 → Table 2 (new scores) applies.

Scenario C: Two tests, both ≤ 22 April 2026 → Both sittings judged against Table 1. When combining, no individual component falls below Table 1’s floor for that test.

Scenario D: Two tests, both ≥ 23 April 2026 → Both sittings judged against Table 2. Same floor rule applies.

Scenario E: Two tests, first ≤ 22 April 2026, second ≥ 23 April 2026 → First sitting must meet Table 1 minimums. Second sitting must meet Table 2 minimums. This is the trickiest scenario — if you are in it, check each sitting against its respective table.

All two-sitting combinations must be: within a 12-month period, same test type, all four components tested each time, with no individual score below the test-specific floor in either sitting.

What Nursing Applicants Should Do

If you have not taken your English test yet, prepare for the new Table 2 thresholds. There is no advantage to rushing a test before some imagined “deadline” — the new scores are calibrated to the same proficiency level.

If you took a test before 23 April 2026 and met Table 1 requirements, your results remain valid for their full validity period (typically 2–3 years, depending on the National Board).

If you took PTE Academic before the cutoff and narrowly missed the Speaking threshold under Table 1, be aware that the new Table 2 Speaking requirement of 76 is substantially higher. You are not disadvantaged by the policy — you are judged against the table that matches your test date — but if you need to retake, you will be under Table 2.

If you plan to combine two sittings, aim to keep both within the same side of the cutoff date. Scenario E (straddling the cutoff) adds complexity that is easy to get wrong.

FAQ

Did AHPRA raise the English requirement in 2026?

No. AHPRA’s policy explicitly states the proficiency level required for registration has not changed. The score adjustments reflect updated concordance research from test providers. A score of 76 on the new PTE scale is intended to represent the same speaking ability as a 66 on the old scale.

My IELTS 7.0 from 2025 — is it still valid for AHPRA registration?

Yes. IELTS Academic thresholds are completely unchanged between the old and new tables. If your scores (overall 7.0, L/R/S ≥7.0, W ≥6.5) are within the validity period (generally 3 years for most National Boards), they remain fully valid.

Why did PTE Speaking jump from 66 to 76?

Pearson’s latest concordance research found that the old 66 threshold no longer mapped accurately to the proficiency level AHPRA requires. The new 76 threshold is Pearson’s recalibrated equivalent. This does not mean the test is harder — it means the number that represents the same ability changed.

Can I combine an OET result from before April 2026 with one from after?

Yes, but it falls under Scenario E (straddling the cutoff). Your pre-cutoff sitting must meet Table 1 letter-grade thresholds, and your post-cutoff sitting must meet Table 2 numeric thresholds. Given OET also changed its scoring system entirely, this scenario is particularly complex — try to keep both sittings on the same side of the cutoff.

Does this policy affect university nursing program admission?

No. AHPRA’s transition policy governs registration requirements, not university admission. Individual universities set their own English entry requirements, which may differ from AHPRA’s registration thresholds. Always verify admission requirements directly with your target institution.

Sources

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. (2026). Transition arrangements policy — changes to minimum scores and requirements for accepted English tests, April 2026. https://www.ahpra.gov.au
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2026). English Language Skills Registration Standard. https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
National Boards. (2026). English Language Skills Registration Standard common to 13 National Boards. https://www.ahpra.gov.au
Department of Home Affairs. (2025). Changes to English language test requirements for migration purposes. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Data as of 6 July 2026. Based on AHPRA official transition policy document. Applicants should consult ahpra.gov.au for the most current requirements before submitting a registration application.