English language competence and overseas applicants
Certain applicants who have trained outside of the EU or the EEA – known as Group 3 applicants – must provide proof to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) of English language competence.
Group 1 or Group 2 applicants – those who trained in the EU or the EEA – do not have to provide proof that you can speak English as part of the application process. NMBI is not allowed to ask EU or EEA trained applicants to provide proof that they can speak English, as a requirement for registration under the EU Directive.
However, European legislation does not prevent an employer from carrying out an assessment of an
individual nurse or midwife’s English language competence or from asking a nurse or midwife to produce formal certification of such competence.
Group 3 and language requirements
If you are a Group 3 applicant and if English is not your first language or primary language of expression, you will need to demonstrate that you can speak English. NMBI only accepts International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test and IELTS Academic Test for UKVI as evidence of English language competency. NMBI will only accept the minimum scores in the IELTS Academic Test that are shown in the table below.
| IELTS Academic Test |
Minimum scores |
| Listening |
6.5 |
| Reading |
6.5 |
| Writing |
7.0 |
| Speaking |
7.0 |
| Overall |
7.0 |
Please note that:
- We only accept IELTS test results that are less than two years old. If your test results are out of date, you will need to re-sit the IELTS
- No other general version of IELTS will be accepted by NMBI
- You must provide IELTS Academic Test Report Form (TRF) number as part of Step 1 of the application process, detailed in the next section
- NMBI will independently verify your scores
Important
- Do not apply for registration until you meet the minimum scores under the IELTS Academic Test
- Ensure that the test result is current
- Remember that if you make an application, and don’t meet the English language competence requirements, the assessment fee is non-refundable
TRF Number
You must provide your Test Report Form (TRF) Number when completing the Overseas Registration Application Pack. Your TRF Number is the 15–18 characters (alpha/numeric combination) which you will find on the bottom right hand corner of your Test Report Form. NMBI will use the TRF number you provide to independently verify your scores.
