MET for Nurses & Healthcare Workers: Australian Visa Guide

Healthcare workers, especially nurses, are in high demand across Australia. Many overseas-trained professionals need an English test for registration and visa purposes. The Michigan English Test (MET) is now accepted by both the Department of Home Affairs for visa purposes and some nursing regulatory bodies for professional registration, making it a practical and affordable option for healthcare professionals pursuing an Australian career.

English Requirements for Healthcare Visas

As a healthcare professional, you will likely encounter two separate English requirements: one for your visa application and one for your professional registration. These are distinct processes with potentially different score thresholds, so it is important to understand both.

Visa Requirements (Department of Home Affairs)

The Department of Home Affairs added MET to its approved English test list on 7 August 2025. For visa purposes, two English levels are relevant:

• Competent English — MET scores of Listening 56, Reading 55, Writing 57, Speaking 48. This level is the minimum for skilled migration and is required for visas such as the Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) visa.
• Proficient English — MET scores of Listening 61, Reading 63, Writing 74, Speaking 59. This level earns you +10 points under Australia's points test and is strongly recommended for competitive visas like the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional).

Source: Department of Home Affairs — Proficient English. Last verified: July 2026.

Registration Requirements (AHPRA)

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) sets English language standards for registered health practitioners, including nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals. English requirements vary by profession and registration pathway.

Currently, OET and IELTS are the most widely accepted tests by AHPRA for nursing registration. MET acceptance for AHPRA registration purposes is an evolving area, and you should check the current AHPRA English language skills registration standard directly before booking your test. Some nursing regulatory bodies and employers may accept MET on a case-by-case basis, particularly for positions that do not require full AHPRA registration or for supervised practice pathways.

Why Nurses Choose MET

MET offers several practical advantages for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses trained in countries with formal English education systems:

• Lower cost — At approximately $150 USD, MET is significantly more affordable than OET (~$455–587 USD). For nurses on a budget, this cost difference is substantial, especially when relocation expenses add up.
• Grammar section (25 questions) — If you learned English formally through textbooks and classroom instruction, MET's explicit grammar component plays to your strengths. Many nurses from countries like the Philippines, India, and Nigeria have strong formal grammar knowledge.
• Recorded speaking test — Speaking into a microphone with 5 structured tasks is less stressful than a live, face-to-face role-play with an examiner. You can focus on your English without the added pressure of interpersonal dynamics.
• Multiple choice format — All Listening and Reading questions are multiple choice. There are no short-answer or fill-in-the-blank questions that require you to write under time pressure, making the test more predictable and easier to prepare for.
• Strong recognition among Philippine nurses — Michigan tests (including MET and ECCE) have long been popular with Philippine nurses for US licensure and NCLEX preparation. MET builds on that existing trust and familiarity in the nursing community.

MET vs OET for Healthcare

The Occupational English Test (OET) is specifically designed for healthcare professionals and is widely accepted by AHPRA. However, MET is emerging as a strong alternative, especially for visa purposes. Here is a side-by-side comparison:

Which should you choose? If your primary goal is meeting the visa English requirement and your AHPRA registration pathway accepts MET (or you plan to use another test for registration), MET is the more cost-effective choice. If you need AHPRA registration and want a single test that covers both visa and registration, OET remains the more established option in Australian healthcare, despite its higher cost.

Common Healthcare Visa Pathways Using MET

Here are the most common Australian visa subclasses for healthcare professionals and the MET score thresholds you need:

For the Subclass 482 (Employer Sponsored) visa, English thresholds can vary depending on the nominated occupation and any relevant labour agreements or industry-specific concessions. Always verify the specific requirements for your occupation code on the Department of Home Affairs website.

For complete details on all visa subclasses and MET score requirements, see our Australian Visa MET Requirements Guide.

How to Prepare for MET as a Healthcare Professional

MET's format makes it particularly well-suited to systematic preparation. The Writing section, in particular, includes email and essay tasks that reflect the kind of professional communication healthcare workers need daily — writing referral letters, patient summaries, and correspondence with colleagues.

Use our free practice tests to prepare for each section of the MET:

Key Tip: Double-Check Requirements