New Zealand · Professional registration

IELTS score for nurses in New Zealand (Nursing Council of New Zealand)

Internationally qualified nurses using IELTS need IELTS Academic with at least 7 in reading, listening and speaking and at least 6.5 in writing. No overall score is set.

Set by Nursing Council of New Zealand. Checked against the official source on 23 October 2026.

Scores required

Test: IELTS Academic

listening
7.0
reading
7.0
writing
6.5
speaking
7.0

Scores are minimums: the score in each skill must be at least the figure shown.

What else to know

  • You can reach the minimums over more than one sitting within 12 months of your first, and all sittings must be within the 3 years before you apply.
  • The only other approved test is OET (350 in reading, listening and speaking; 300 in writing). PTE is not accepted.
  • Online tests are not accepted; computer-based tests at an approved test centre are.

Official sources

Figures confirmed by hand on 23 October 2026; sources last checked automatically on 23 October 2026. Requirements change: the official source always decides.

Preparing for this score

This requirement is for IELTS Academic. Writing is usually the hardest score to reach, so practise full Task 1 and Task 2 answers under time and check where you lose marks.

See how close you are to the score you need

Take a timed mock test and get estimated band scores for each skill, with the errors that are costing you marks.

Try a mock test

Other requirements in New Zealand

This page summarises a published requirement. It is not immigration or legal advice, and we cannot advise on individual cases: for that, use the official body or a regulated adviser. IELTS is a registered trademark. IELTS Prep Studio is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge Assessment English.