The Occupational English Test (OET) is an English language proficiency exam for healthcare professionals. It assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in a healthcare context, helping to ensure effective communication. Recognised worldwide, OET is a high stakes test accepted by the Australian, UK, US, and New Zealand governments for visa purposes. The test is also accepted by regulatory bodies, employers, and educational institutions.
NEAS is pleased to assess and endorse OET in the category of Quality Products and Services (Area K). The Quality Principles of Area K focus on these features of the target Product and Service: its underlying research; its fulfilment of purpose; its processes for maintaining quality; its uniqueness and innovation; and its contribution to the ELT community. Detailed information on Area K of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework can be referenced here: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/#area-k.
OET’s commitment to research, both in quantity and quality, is commendable. Collaborating closely with healthcare professionals in diverse clinical settings, OET develops authentic test items to evaluate candidates’ professional communication abilities. The rigorous validation, training, and moderation of item writers and assessors reflect their high standards. With 12 tailored versions for different medical and allied health fields, follow-up studies indicate that OET high scorers are preferred by leaders in medical domains. OET has earned the reputation as the ‘gold standard’ for recruiting proficient medical personnel from non-English speaking backgrounds.
July 2023
