The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards have announced updates to the English Language Skills (ELS) standards that will take effect from April 2025. These changes are designed to offer greater flexibility for international applicants, while maintaining essential communication standards in healthcare.
What's Changing?
Writing Score Requirement Lowered: Minimum IELTS writing score is now 6.5 (previously 7.0)
Overall IELTS Score Remains Unchanged: A minimum overall score of 7.0 is still required
Other Band Requirements Stay the Same: Listening, Reading, and Speaking continue to require a minimum score of 7.0
Expanded Recognised Country List: More countries are now accepted under the recognised list for demonstrating English proficiency
South Africa Update: South Africa will be removed from the recognised country list effective March 18, 2025.
These updated standards apply to all relevant applications submitted from April 2025 onward.
Need Help Navigating These Changes?
Boomerang International is here to guide you through your English language test preparation and application process. Contact us today for expert advice and personalised support on meeting the new English language requirements for registration in Australia.