The government is going to phase out the mandatory English language examination TOEFL and IELTS for Indian doctors, nurses, dentists and midwives who wish to practice in the UK from October 1. In return, professionals will only have to pass the Occupational English Test (OET), whose score will be valid.

OET is the international English language test, through which healthcare professionals in the English environment are judged to have the ability to communicate in this language. Until now, candidates had to pass the OET for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Medical Council, while the TOEFL and IELTS were required to obtain a visa.

Sujatha Stead, CEO of Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, which conducts the OET, said that the UK Ministry of Home Affairs has said that there will be no need to sit for a double examination for Tier-2 visas in the UK. He said that this change will allow access to hospitals across the country.