English in Aged Care: Requirements and the Path to Meeting Them

Aged care and the English requirement

The aged care sector in Australia faces a serious workforce shortage, creating significant opportunities for migrants with suitable skills. However, the English requirement in this sector varies considerably depending on the specific role — from a Registered Nurse to a personal care worker who does not require a professional registration.

Understanding the English requirement for your role correctly will help you plan your study and prepare your migration application more effectively.

English requirement for registered nurses in aged care

A Registered Nurse (RN) and an Enrolled Nurse (EN) working in aged care must register with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). AHPRA’s English requirement applies to all nurses, whether they work in a hospital, a clinic or an aged care facility.

AHPRA requires you to meet one of the following English standards:

IELTS option:

IELTS Academic: a minimum of 7.0 in each band (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing)
A minimum overall score of 7.0

OET option:

OET (Occupational English Test): a minimum of grade B in each of the four skills
OET is designed specifically for health professionals and is often preferred in nursing

Other tests:

PTE Academic: a minimum of 65 in each skill
TOEFL iBT: certain minimum scores (check with AHPRA as the policy can change)

This is AHPRA’s requirement for professional registration, separate from DHA’s English requirement for a visa. You need to meet both requirements.

English requirement for non-nursing aged care workers

A personal care worker / support worker in aged care does not need AHPRA registration, so there is no formal English requirement from a professional regulation point of view.

In practice, however:

Employers generally require a level of English sufficient to communicate with older people, colleagues and the families of those being cared for.
The Aged Care Quality Standards require providers to ensure staff can communicate effectively.
The Certificate III or IV in Individual Support (the most common vocational qualification in aged care) generally requires a level of English sufficient to complete the course.

For migration purposes, you still have to meet DHA’s English requirement to be granted a visa (usually Competent English for a skilled visa).

Why English matters in practice in aged care

Even though there is no formal requirement for non-nursing staff, good English is essential in an aged care environment because:

Communicating with older people: many older Australians may speak slowly, use local slang, or have hearing difficulties — requiring the listener to understand and be patient.
Recording care notes: staff must record health status, activities and incidents in English.
Coordinating with the team: handing over a shift, reporting incidents and coordinating with nurses requires clear English.
Preventing accidents: misunderstanding medical information or instructions can have serious consequences.

The pathway to improving English for aged care

If you want to work in aged care, or improve your English for your current job, there are several options:

For people preparing a visa (not yet in Australia):

Enrol in an IELTS or OET preparation course
If you want to become a nurse, OET is a good choice because it meets the AHPRA requirement and its content is close to real health care practice
You need IELTS 7.0 in each band or OET B in all skills if you want to register with AHPRA

For people already in Australia:

Take part in AMEP (free, up to 510 hours) to build a foundation in English
TAFE colleges and vocational schools offer English courses specifically for health care and aged care
Some large aged care employers offer on-site language training or help with the cost of study

Health-specific English courses:

Look for courses covering medical vocabulary, record keeping and patient communication
Many OET providers offer practice materials aimed specifically at aged care nursing

Summary of requirements by role

A registered nurse (RN/EN) in aged care needs to meet the AHPRA requirement (IELTS 7.0 in each band or OET B) — a higher requirement than the standard Competent level for a migration visa. A personal care worker has no formal AHPRA requirement but still needs to meet the DHA visa requirement and have enough English to work effectively. Whatever the role, investing in health-specific English will help you serve older people better and open up more opportunities for advancement in the sector.