VisaScreen English scores for nurses from 12 May 2026: IELTS 6.5 with 7.0 in speaking
Under HRSA's list of 12 May 2026, a VisaScreen certificate for a registered nurse needs IELTS 6.5 overall with 7.0 in speaking, OET 320 in listening, 340 in reading, 350 in writing and 360 in speaking, or PTE 55 with 76 in speaking; tests taken at home are not accepted.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · HRSA ↗
- Effective
- 12 May 2026
- Who it affects
- Doctors and nurses in the US and Canada
HRSA's English scores for registered nurses
| IELTS | OET | PTE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | — | 320 | 62 |
| Reading | — | 340 | 62 |
| Writing | — | 350 | 62 |
| Speaking | 7.0 | 360 | 76 |
| Overall | 6.5 | — | 55 |
What it means for you
Two new destinations, read from ECFMG, the USMLE, NCSBN, New York's board, TruMerit, HRSA, the Medical Council of Canada, CaRMS, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the CFPC, NNAS and the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Nurses, United States
Every state licenses separately; the plan walks New York: a credentials report, the NCLEX-RN (USD 200 plus USD 150 abroad, rising to USD 350 on 1 February 2027), the USD 143 licence, and the federal VisaScreen certificate (USD 740) with HRSA's English scores from 12 May 2026: IELTS 6.5 with 7 in speaking, OET 360/340/350/320, PTE 55 with 76 in speaking. No test for nursing education taught in English in six countries. The employer's visa petition comes after, and its wait is not predicted.
Doctors, United States
The road runs through residency: USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK (USD 695 each plus a region fee abroad), OET Medicine for everyone (350 in listening, reading and speaking, 300 in writing), an ECFMG Pathway applied for by 31 January, a verified diploma, then the ERAS application and the Match on a J-1 visa. In 2026, 56.4% of non-U.S. citizen graduates who ranked programmes matched. The state licence comes after residency.
Doctors, Canada
Ontario stands for the provinces. Family doctors certified in Australia, Ireland, the UK or the US get CFPC certification without examination (CAD 533 plus CAD 3,518) and a certificate to practise independently in scope. Specialists trained outside Canada and the US pass the MCCQE (CAD 1,500, which now carries the LMCC) and enter the Royal College's Practice Eligibility Route for up to three years of supervised practice. Residency through CaRMS needs Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, the MCCQE and the NAC Examination (CAD 3,320).
Nurses, Canada
The NNAS report (CAD 750, within five business days of the last document), the College of Nurses of Ontario application (CAD 489.29), the NCLEX-RN (CAD 360 plus CAD 150 abroad; CAD 570 from February 2027), the jurisprudence exam, a transition to practice course and authorization to work; CNO says about twelve months. English: IELTS 7 overall with 6.5 in reading and writing, OET B/C+, PTE or CELBAN, or nursing education or practice in English in the last two years.
What to do next
Tell us where you trained, your English and the countries you want, and we show which steps you have left in each, with every fee and how long it takes.
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Sources
- HRSA: Updated list of tests and scores for foreign health care workers (as of 12 May 2026) ↗
- TruMerit: VisaScreen, visa credentials assessment ↗
- ECFMG: Certification overview (requirements for ECFMG Certification) ↗
- ECFMG: 2027 Pathways, assessment of communication skills (OET Medicine passing requirement) ↗
- NCSBN: NCLEX fee changes effective 1 February 2027 (notice of 21 August 2026) ↗
- CPSO: Pathways for family doctors without the CFPC examination (PDF) ↗
- CPSO: Pathway for RCPSC Practice Eligibility Route (PER) candidates (PDF) ↗
- CaRMS: R-1 Main Residency Match eligibility criteria ↗
- College of Nurses of Ontario: Registration requirements ↗
- National Nursing Assessment Service: Fees ↗
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