Explorez nos ressources
Learn about the OET exam in Canada, including 2026 costs, requirements, scores, test format, results and preparation for healthcare professionals.
2026-10-02
If you are an internationally trained healthcare professional planning to restart your career in Canada, you may need to prove your English-language skills as part of the licensing process.
One test you may come across is the Occupational English Test (OET). Unlike general English tests, OET is designed for healthcare professionals. It tests your ability to communicate in English using situations you may experience in a healthcare setting.
If you are considering OET, you may have questions about the cost, required scores, test format and whether your Canadian regulator accepts it. This guide explains what you need to know about the OET exam in Canada in 2026.
The Occupational English Test is an English-language proficiency test designed for healthcare professionals.
The test assesses four skills:
OET uses healthcare-related situations throughout the test. This allows candidates to demonstrate their English skills in a professional context. However, completing OET does not qualify you to practise your profession in Canada. Language testing may be one part of a larger reaccreditation process that can include credential assessments, licensing exams, additional education or training and registration with a regulatory body. This definition of reaccreditation also follows Windmill's editorial terminology.
OET is designed for healthcare professionals and is available for 12 professions, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
For internationally trained healthcare professionals, OET may be useful when a Canadian regulatory body accepts it as evidence of English-language proficiency. Before registering, check the requirements for your profession and province. There is no single OET requirement that applies to every healthcare profession across Canada. Some regulators accept OET while others may accept different language tests or have different requirements.
Yes, OET is accepted by some Canadian healthcare regulators. However, acceptance depends on your profession, province and regulatory body.
For example, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) lists OET Medicine as one option applicants can use to provide proof of English-language proficiency. It currently requires a minimum grade of B in each of the four components in the same sitting, with results from within the previous 24 months.
This is only one example. It should not be treated as the requirement for every healthcare profession or every province. Before paying for an exam, check the current requirements directly with the regulatory body responsible for your profession.
The official price for the full OET is currently AU$587. The test fee covers all four sub-tests: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. For someone paying in Canada, this is approximately CAD $530 to $550, depending on the exchange rate. This Canadian-dollar figure is an estimate, not an official OET price. OET sets its official fee in Australian dollars, so the amount charged in Canadian dollars may change based on the exchange rate and your payment provider.
Candidates who have already taken the full OET may also be able to book individual sub-tests for OET on Paper at eligible locations.
Current official fees are:
OET advises candidates to check whether the organization receiving their results accepts scores from individual sub-tests before choosing this option. The exam itself may not be your only expense. You may also need to budget for preparation materials, courses, travel and other costs related to your licensing process.
There is no single set of OET requirements for all healthcare professionals in Canada. Each regulatory body can determine whether it accepts OET and what results applicants need.
Before registering, confirm:
Checking these requirements first can help you avoid paying for a test that does not meet your licensing needs. You will also need acceptable identification when booking and taking the test. OET accepts a valid passport. Outside the United States, it may also accept a valid national government-issued ID that includes your full name, photograph and date of birth. The ID in your OET account must match the ID you present on test day.
OET assesses Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
The Listening sub-test assesses your ability to understand spoken English in healthcare-related situations.
You may hear conversations between healthcare professionals and patients as well as other workplace situations.
The Reading sub-test assesses how well you understand written information in a healthcare context.
The Writing sub-test is profession-specific. It assesses your ability to communicate in writing using a task related to your profession.
The Speaking sub-test also relates to your profession. It uses role plays in which you take the role of a healthcare professional and communicate with another person in a healthcare situation.
The healthcare focus is one of the main differences between OET and general English-language tests.
There is no universal OET passing score for Canada. The score you need depends on the organization assessing your application.
For example, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario currently accepts OET Medicine results with a minimum B in each of the four components in the same sitting. The results must also be from within the previous 24 months when the applicant applies.
Requirements for nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals may be different. Always check your regulator's current requirements before booking your test.
You can search for available test locations and dates through the official OET website.
OET recommends having your identification and payment card ready before starting the booking process. You can enter your preferred city and country to find nearby testing locations and filter the results by test mode and distance.
Complete the booking using the same personal information shown on the identification you plan to use on test day.
The timeline depends on how you take the test.
For OET on Computer, results may be released as soon as 48 hours after you complete all four sub-tests. OET says 95 percent of computer-based results are released within six calendar days.
For OET on Paper outside India and the Philippines, results are released from 13 days after the test date. These are estimated timelines. OET notes that quality assurance checks, public holidays and other circumstances may affect when results are released.
You can also give organizations permission to access and verify your results through your OET account.
Good English skills do not always mean you are ready for the test format. OET recommends preparing for all four sub-tests and becoming familiar with the strategies needed for a timed exam. It provides both free and paid preparation resources.
As you prepare, consider practising sample tests under timed conditions. Spend additional time on areas you find challenging and become familiar with healthcare-related Writing and Speaking tasks. It is also important to know the score your regulator requires. This gives you a clear target when preparing.
Explore official OET preparation resources
Some internationally trained healthcare professionals may have a choice between OET and another accepted English test, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
The main difference is the context of the tests.
OET focuses on healthcare communication. IELTS assesses English-language proficiency more generally.
This does not mean OET is easier than IELTS. You may simply find one format better suited to your experience and communication skills.
Before choosing, compare the tests your regulator accepts, the scores you need, the cost, available test dates and your familiarity with each format.
Language testing may be one of several costs involved in returning to your profession in Canada.
Depending on your profession, your reaccreditation process may also include:
Understanding these expenses early can help you plan your next steps.
Windmill Microlending is a national charity that helps skilled immigrants and refugees restart their careers in Canada through affordable loans and career support.
A Windmill loan can help eligible clients cover career-related expenses such as licensing and qualifying exams, credential assessments, tuition, books and materials, living allowance and childcare during a study period.
The official full OET fee is currently AU$587, or approximately CAD $530 to $550 depending on the exchange rate. OET charges the official fee in Australian dollars, so the Canadian amount may change.
Some Canadian healthcare regulators accept OET as evidence of English-language proficiency. Acceptance depends on your profession, province and regulatory body. Check with your regulator before booking.
There is no single passing score for Canada. Each regulatory body sets its own requirements. For example, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario currently accepts a minimum B in each OET Medicine component in the same sitting as one option for demonstrating English-language proficiency.
OET on Computer results may be available from 48 hours after all four sub-tests are completed, with 95 percent released within six calendar days. OET on Paper results outside India and the Philippines are released from 13 days after the test.
Alerte à la fraude : Méfiez-vous des personnes ou comptes prétendant représenter Le Moulin Microcrédits. Nous ne demandons jamais de renseignements personnels ni de paiements sur les réseaux sociaux ou applications de messagerie. Vérifiez que nos courriels se terminent par @teamwindmill.org ou @equipelemoulin.org, ou contactez-nous via les coordonnées officielles sur notre site Web.