What PTE score do nurses need in Australia in 2026?
The table shows the minimums for one sitting. Ahpra accepts PTE Academic taken at a test centre for this pathway. PTE Core and an at-home test are not substitutes. Source: Ahpra's accepted English tests.
| Score | From 23 Apr 2026 | Through 22 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 63 | 66 |
| Listening | 58 | 66 |
| Reading | 59 | 66 |
| Writing | 60 | 56 |
| Speaking | 76 | 66 |
Checked 17 October 2026 against Ahpra's April 2026 transition policy (PDF), Tables 1 and 2. Older results must also meet the evidence-age rules.
Do not set a blanket “65 each” target. For a current test, Speaking 65 is below 76. A high overall score cannot cancel out a missing skill minimum.
Nursing registration, course entry and a visa are different checks
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) sets nursing registration standards; Ahpra administers registration. This article covers the English-test pathway. Other English evidence pathways exist, so not every applicant needs PTE. See the NMBA English language skills FAQ.
Before preparing, make a separate checklist for each application:
- Nursing registration: English evidence is one part of the application. Meeting these scores alone does not grant registration.
- Nursing course admission: ask the university for the requirement for your course and intake. Do not assume the registration table is its entry rule.
- Visa or migration: check the relevant Home Affairs requirement independently. Our Australia PTE score guide separates Student visa, university and skilled migration thresholds.
If two organisations ask for a result, record both sets of conditions beside your score report. One acceptance decision does not answer the other application.
Can you combine two PTE results for Ahpra?
Yes, subject to conditions. For two tests both taken on or after 23 April 2026, use this checklist from Table 2 of the transition policy:
- Use a maximum of two sittings within a 12-month period.
- Reach at least 63 overall in each sitting.
- Meet each skill target across the two results.
- Keep every skill in both sittings at or above the lower limits below.
| Skill | Target across pair | Minimum in both |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 58 | 53 |
| Reading | 59 | 54 |
| Writing | 60 | 60 |
| Speaking | 76 | 66 |
The lower-limit column is not a passing score table. Writing is especially easy to misread: it must reach 60 in both sittings used.
Three worked checks: a usable pair and two common failures
These fictional examples apply the current score rules. Assume both accepted PTE Academic sittings took place after 23 April 2026, within 12 months of each other, and satisfy the evidence-age requirements. They illustrate English-score checks, not registration decisions.
| Sitting | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 64 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 70 |
| September | 66 | 55 | 57 | 62 | 78 |
1. This pair clears the illustrated score checks
Both overall results clear 63. June supplies the Listening and Reading targets; September supplies Speaking. Writing clears 60 twice. September's Listening 55 and Reading 57 miss the single-sitting targets but stay above their combination floors.
2. Change September Writing to 59: the pair fails
June Writing 60 cannot rescue September Writing 59. The latter is below the lower limit for a result included in a pair. Checking only the highest score in each column would miss this failure.
3. Change June Overall to 62: the pair fails
Keeping all the skill numbers the same does not fix an overall result below 63. Do not average the two overall scores. Compare each report with every condition before planning the next test.
Older tests, mixed dates and result validity
For tests on or before 22 April 2026, the earlier two-sitting rule requires 66 overall per sitting, the earlier skill targets across the pair, and no skill below 56 in either sitting. Do not apply the current lower-limit table retrospectively.
If your tests straddle the April change, Ahpra's mixed-date guidance says each result is assessed against the requirements applying on its own test date. Use the transition policy's separate tables; do not combine parts of the old and new rules into a homemade target.
Results are normally required to be from the two years before you lodge your registration application. For two sittings, the earlier test starts that validity period. The NMBA FAQ describes exceptions for older results with qualifying continuous work or study and additional conditions. An old result is not automatically extended just because you have worked in English.
Keep the test dates, application deadline and both complete reports together. For a mixed-date pair or an older-result exception, ask Ahpra to clarify the applicable evidence before relying on it.
Build your practice plan around the gap in your report
Start with the skill or condition stopping your result from meeting the requirement. These are MocksPTE study suggestions, not an official score prediction.
- Speaking below your target: record a short answer and listen for missing information, repeated starts and unclear words. Use our speaking fluency drills, then practise Respond to a Situation with a clear purpose and relevant details.
- Writing below 60: keep an error log for sentence boundaries, agreement and spelling. Try Summarize Written Text practice and check the task instructions before submitting.
- Listening or Reading gaps: review why each wrong option looked plausible. Distinguish a vocabulary gap from a missed detail, then repeat a comparable task in Listening or Reading practice.
Finish the week with a full PTE Academic practice test to rehearse timing. Use the four-week study plan to schedule corrections. MocksPTE feedback and practice score estimates are not official Pearson results and cannot certify readiness for a particular score.