FAQ / What are the Acceptable English Language Test Scores for Health Care Worker Certification?

The statute gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the sole discretion to determine the minimum scores required for a Health Care Worker Certification.

* Occupational and physical therapists. An alien seeking to perform labor in the United States as an occupational or physical therapist must obtain the following scores on the English tests:
ETS: Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Paper-Based 560, Computer-Based 220; Test of Written English (TWE): 4.5; Test of Spoken English (TSE): 50.
Important: The certifying organizations shall not accept the results of the TOEIC, or the IELTS for the occupations of occupational therapy or physical therapy.
* Registered nurses and other health care workers requiring the attainment of a baccalaureate degree. An alien coming to the United States to perform labor as a registered nurse (other than a nurse presenting a certified statement under section 212(r) of the Act) or to perform labor in another health care occupation requiring a baccalaureate degree (other than occupational or physical therapy) must obtain one of the following combinations of scores to obtain a certificate:
ETS: TOEFL: Paper-Based 540, Computer-Based 207; TWE: 4.0; TSE: 50;
TOEIC Service International: TOEIC: 725; plus TWE: 4.0 and TSE: 50; or
IELTS: 6.5 overall with a spoken band score of 7.0. This would require the Academic module.
* Occupations requiring less than a baccalaureate degree. An alien coming to the United States to perform labor in a health care occupation that does not require a baccalaureate degree must obtain one of the following combinations of scores to obtain a certificate:
ETS: TOEFL: Paper-Based 530, Computer-Based 197; TWE: 4.0; TSE: 50;
TOEIC Service International: TOEIC: 700; plus TWE 4.0 and TSE: 50; or
IELTS: 6.0 overall with a spoken band score of 7.0. This would allow either the Academic or the General module.


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