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- Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
- Contact the Advice Team
- XL Bully dog ban
- 'Under care' - new guidance
- Advice on Schedule 3
- Controlled Drugs Guidance – A to Z
- Dealing with Difficult Situations webinar recordings
- FAQs – Common medicines pitfalls
- FAQs – Routine veterinary practice and clinical veterinary research
- GDPR – RCVS information and Q&As
English language requirements
How to demonstrate that you have the appropriate level of English to work as a vet in the UK.
On this page:
Which tests to take
To register with the RCVS you must be able to communicate in English at an appropriate level.
To demonstrate this, you can take either:
- the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) UKVI Academic or IELTS Academic, (paper based or online test) or
- the veterinary version of the Occupational English Test (OET) paper based or online test.
Required scores
For your English language test to be accepted, you must achieve the following average score:
IELTS
Overall average score:
- 7.0 or higher
Component scores:
- 6.5 or higher in one component
- 7.0 or higher in all other components
OET
Overall average score:
- Grade B or higher
Component scores:
- C+ or higher in one component
- B or higher in all other components
Component scores explained
The IELTS and OET are made up of four components:
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing
We can only accept 6.5 (IELTS) or C+ (OET) in one of these components, no matter how high your average overall score is.
Retaking test components
If you pass some sub-tests of the OET – for example, writing or reading - but fall below the required standard in others, you may re-sit those failed sub-tests.
Similarly, IELTS candidates can re-sit individual sections with the IELTS One Skill Retake. This means that if you fall below the required standard in any component of the IELTS test you will be able to retake it.
Accepted IELTS UKVI Academic score examples
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 8.0 |
Average score: 7 and above |
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 |
Average score: 7 and above |
Unaccepted IELTS UKVI Academic score examples
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Average score: 6.875 |
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
Average score: 6.625 |
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
Average score: 6.5 |
Accepted OET (Veterinary version) score examples
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
350 (Grade B) | 370 (Grade B) | 390 (Grade B) | 450 (Grade A) |
Overall score: Grade B and above |
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
330 (Grade C+) | 370 (Grade B) | 390 (Grade B) | 350 (Grade B) |
Overall score: Grade C+ and above |
Unaccepted OET (Veterinary version) score examples
Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
290 (Grade C) | 250 (Grade C) | 390 (Grade B) | 340 (Grade C+) |
Overall score: Grade C and above |
Submitting your results
Once you have achieved the required test scores, you should send us either:
- your Test Report Form (IELTS) UKVI Academic, Academic, or
- a Statement of Results (OET).
When you fill in the online registration form, you will be able to upload a good quality scanned copy of your report or statement. We can’t accept photocopies. Alternatively, you can arrange for your test centre to post it directly to us.
We will confirm that we have received the test report, once we have verified your scores through the IELTS/OET verification service.
If you’re taking the OET, please ensure that you add the RCVS to the list of verifier institutions so that we can access your results.
IELTS and OET certificates are valid for two years.
When you’ll get your results
IELTS test results are normally available to collect from the test centre 13 days after taking the test, whilst the OET results are normally available 17 days after the test.
English language test exemption
You do not have to take an English language test if your veterinary degree was taught and assessed entirely in English.
In order to be considered for an exemption, you must provide a letter sent directly to the RCVS from your university. This letter should formally confirm that:
- you got your veterinary degree at an English-speaking University, and
- that the whole course was taught and assessed solely in English.
This letter must be written in English and be sent directly from the University to the RCVS at [email protected]