UK English language test rules for overseas nurses and midwives could be relaxed after they were criticised for being too stringent. People Management reports that at present, people moving to the UK who wish to register as a nurse or midwife must achieve at least a level 7 in the four elements of the International English Language Testing System: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
However, the report notes that according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), it will consider other options for assessing English language skills. In particular, those who have obtained a recent qualification that was taught in English and have worked for at least two years in a country where English is the native language would qualify. If approved, the changes could come into force as early as next month.
It was reported earlier this year that the current tests were so rigorous that even those who were native English speakers were failing, with one recruitment agency reporting an average mark for English speakers it put forward of just 6.3 in writing and 6.7 in reading.
"We are pleased to see that the NMC is reviewing the way in which nurses can show they meet the required English language standards,” Danny Mortimer, CEO of NHS Employers and deputy CEO of the NHS Confederation, is quoted in the report as saying. “We have been working with the NMC on this issue and, ultimately, this is about patient safety. Employers and the NMC want to make sure nurses can communicate vital clinical information clearly and effectively, but there may be other ways for them to effectively demonstrate that."
The report says the NMC has already relaxed the rules to make the tests more flexible. Last June, the organisation announced that applicants would be able to take the exams in two sittings within six months of each other. Provided an individual achieved at least a 6.5 in all disciplines in both sittings, they would be awarded the equivalent of four level 7s.
[link url="http://www2.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2017/09/25/strict-language-testing-for-overseas-nurses-will-be-reconsidered-say-reports.aspx"]People Management report[/link]