NMC to amend language testing system requirements

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced that it is changing its International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirements for nurses and midwives coming on to the register from overseas and within the European economic area. It says that these changes will increase flexibility for applicants whilst ensuring that the appropriate standard of English language is still achieved.

Under the previous system, applicants were required to achieve the IELTS Academic Test Level 7 in reading, writing, speaking and listening in a single sitting. Under the new protocols, the NMC still requires applicants to achieve Level 7 in all areas, but this can now be achieved over two sittings of the tests. Both tests must be within six months of each other and no single score must be below 6.5 in any of the areas across both tests.

For more information see: http://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/viewNews.asp?news_ID=3630&sector_id==