OET cost 2026: AU$587 wherever you sit it

The OET exam fee is AU$587, and — this is the part almost nobody states plainly — it is AU$587 whether you sit the test in London, Manila, Mumbai, Dubai or Auckland. OET bills in Australian dollars everywhere outside the United States. There is no cheaper country.

The realistic total cost of clearing OET, once practice materials, prep and a likely re-sit are counted, is several times that one number. This guide is the honest budget.

Fees change. The figures below reflect rates published by OET in 2026. Always confirm the current test fee on the official OET site before booking. The structure is stable; the numbers drift up by 3–8% per year.

The headline exam fee

The format you choose does not change what you pay. The country you sit in does not change it either — with one exception: candidates in the United States taking OET on Computer or OET@Home are billed US$455 directly, while US candidates sitting OET on Paper still pay AU$587.

What AU$587 means in your currency

OET does not publish a local price list. It charges Australian dollars and your card issuer converts, so the number that lands on your statement moves with the exchange rate and with whatever margin your bank adds on top.

Mid-market rates on August 20, 2026; your bank's rate will differ.

Two practical consequences. First, searching for "OET exam fees in India" or "OET test fees UK" will not find you a local price, because there isn't one — the answer is always AU$587 converted on the day. Second, most banks add a 2–3% foreign transaction fee on top of the conversion, so budget roughly AU$600 equivalent rather than AU$587 exactly. A card with no FX fee saves you real money here.

What's included in the sitting fee

• One full OET attempt across all four sub-tests
• One copy of your results sent to up to 5 nominated regulators
• Access to the candidate portal for booking, results, and additional verifications

What's NOT included

The big ones:

1. Practice materials

The official OET preparation portal has free sample tests for each sub-test. That gets you started but isn't enough for a serious cohort.

2. Prep courses (optional but common)

Many candidates clear OET without paid courses by using free official materials + a structured self-study plan. See How to prepare for OET.

3. Re-sit costs

The most-forgotten line item. A re-sit of the full OET test is another AU$587. Some regulators accept partial re-sits (e.g. Speaking only), which typically cost less but still aren't free.

About 40% of candidates re-sit at least one sub-test before clearing all requirements. Build re-sit into your budget — don't assume you'll pass clean.

4. Additional result-sending fees

The first 5 regulators are included. Additional regulator submissions are typically $15–25 each.

5. Result verification (rare but possible)

Some regulators ask for additional verification of your results from OET directly. Fees vary, usually $30–50 per request.

6. Re-marking (rare)

If you believe your Writing or Speaking was scored unfairly, you can request a re-mark. Fees apply (typically $80–150). Re-marks rarely change scores significantly; mostly worth it if you're 5–10 marks below a threshold.

A realistic total budget

For a typical candidate who clears OET in one to two sittings:

All figures below are converted to US dollars at 20 August 2026 rates so the line items are comparable; the exam fee itself is charged in AUD.

For most migrating candidates, budget around US$1,100–1,500 for the full OET journey. Less if you're confident on a single sitting, more if you need significant prep support.

Comparing OET cost vs IELTS Academic

IELTS is cheaper per attempt and offered more often, which is why it's the cheaper exam for candidates who expect to need multiple sittings. OET tends to clear faster for healthcare professionals because the format matches their working context — fewer re-sits offsets the higher per-sitting fee. See OET vs IELTS for the full comparison.

Payment options

OET accepts:

• Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx)
• Some local payment methods depending on region
• No instalment plans for the sitting fee (must pay in full at booking)

Refund policy

• Cancellations more than 5 days before the sitting: partial refund (typically 75% of the fee)
• Cancellations within 5 days: no refund
• Medical/emergency: OET sometimes accommodates rescheduling with documentation; not guaranteed

Tax deductibility

In some jurisdictions, OET fees are tax-deductible as a professional registration expense:

• Australia: typically deductible against employment income if you're already employed in your profession
• UK: usually deductible if directly related to current employment
• Canada: case-by-case
• Consult your local tax advisor

Free things to take advantage of

• Official OET sample tests — free from the OET preparation portal
• First 5 regulator submissions — included in the sitting fee
• Results portal access — included
• Public OET rubric documents — invaluable for self-marking

Hidden costs people forget

1. Travel to the test centre — if it's a city away, factor in flights/transport + accommodation
2. Time off work — a sitting day plus travel days
3. Internet upgrade for OET@Home — if your home internet isn't stable enough
4. Stationary — practice notebooks, printed practice tests
5. Tutor hours — even if you're mostly self-studying, one or two 1:1 sessions for Speaking diagnosis can be worth $60–150

Next steps

• Plan the sitting: OET test dates and booking
• Format choice: OET at-home vs test-centre
• Strategy: How to prepare for OET
• The fee is the same for everyone, but the grade is not — what your own board requires: doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists

When the budget is set and Speaking is the bottleneck, download OET Live.