English Language Requirements for Healthcare Professionals in Ireland (2025 Guide)
- Yusra Bashir
- Dec 8, 2025
- 3 min read
International healthcare applicants who wish to register and practise in Ireland must demonstrate sufficient English language competency. Each regulatory body sets its own requirements, but they follow similar principles:
Evidence that the qualification was taught and assessed in English or Irish, or
Evidence of professional practice in an English
- or Irish-speaking country, or
Completion of an approved English language test with minimum scores.
This guide summarises the English language requirements for the main Irish healthcare regulators: the Irish Dental Council (IDC), CORU, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI).
Irish Dental Council (IDC) – English Language Requirements
Qualification Completed in English
The applicant may meet the requirement if their primary qualification (or a sufficiently long postgraduate qualification) was taught and assessed entirely in English. Acceptable evidence includes: the language of instruction stated on the academic certificate/transcript, or an original letter from the university on headed paper confirming that the entire programme — including examinations — was completed in English.
Professional Practice in an English-Speaking Country
Alternatively, applicants can provide proof of full registration and at least 3 years of full-time practice (within the last 5 years) in a country where English is an official language. If full registration proof is unavailable, detailed employer references (with role, duration, location, employment status, and confirmation work was carried out primarily in English) may suffice.
If such evidence is accepted by the Council, no English test is required.
English Language Test (if the above are not met)
Applicants must submit an acceptable, valid (i.e., issued not more than 2 years before application) English-language certificate: either from the IELTS Academic or the Occupational English Test (OET for Dentistry).
Minimum accepted test scores: IELTS Academic — overall 7.0 with no section below 7.0; OET (Dentistry) — a minimum of B grade in all four subtests (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).
CORU – English Language Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate they can practise safely and effectively through English or Irish. Possible ways to satisfy this include having a qualification taught entirely in English/Irish, completing a supervised adaptation period in Ireland, or passing a CORU-approved English test.
CORU sets the standard at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
For many registration boards under CORU, acceptable tests include IELTS Academic (overall 7.0, no element below 6.5) or the Cambridge C1 Advanced (Minimum Grade C), or OET — depending on profession.
NMBI – English Language Requirements for Nurses/Midwives
To register with NMBI, overseas-trained nurses/midwives must demonstrate English competency. Acceptable routes: training completed in a recognised majority–English-speaking country; or full-time practice for 3 years in last 5 years in such country; or a valid English test.
Acceptable tests: IELTS Academic or OET (Nursing). The test must be less than 2 years old at the time of application. Only one test result (single sitting) is accepted; combined results or skill-retests are not allowed.
Minimum accepted scores: For IELTS Academic — overall 7.0, with at least 7.0 in Listening, Reading, Speaking, and at least 6.5 in Writing.
For OET Nursing: Grade B in Listening, Reading, Speaking; Grade C+ in Writing.
PSI – English Language Requirements for Pharmacists
The PSI requires applicants to meet CEFR C1 level. Acceptable English tests: IELTS Academic, Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT), Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), or OET (Pharmacy).
Minimum scores:
IELTS Academic: Overall 7.0, with component minimums — Speaking 7.0, Writing 6.5, Reading 7.0, Listening 7.0.
TOEFL iBT: Minimum component scores — Speaking 25, Writing 21, Reading 24, Listening 22; overall total 95.
Cambridge CAE: Minimum 180 in all components.
OET Pharmacy: Minimum 350 in Listening, Reading, Speaking; 300 in Writing. All components must meet the minimum; overall Grade B required.
PSI does not accept home-based (online) test versions, and requires all tests to be taken in a single sitting (no splitting across sittings).mmm
Always check the latest guidance on the official regulator websites, as requirements can change.
Not Exempt? Here’s the Good News
If you need to take IELTS or OET, you can prepare with E2Language, one of the world’s top English test-prep platforms.
We’ve partnered with E2 to offer you:
🎉 20% OFF all their IELTS and OET preparation packages
This is ideal if:
You want structured courses
You prefer guided video lessons
You need high-yield practice questions
You want a faster path to meeting Irish registration requirements
Register using our link or Send us an email to get your coupon code!
Comments