OET fees and cost — what you actually pay

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

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

The headline fee

| Format | Fee (USD equivalent) | |---|---| | OET on Paper (test centre) | ~$587 | | OET on Computer (test centre) | ~$587 | | OET@Home (online) | ~$587 |

The fee is the same regardless of which format you choose. Some regions have local-currency pricing with small variations; the USD figure is for international comparison.

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.

| Item | Typical cost | |---|---| | Official OET sample materials | Free | | Official additional practice tests | ~$30–50 per set | | Third-party prep books (e.g. Cambridge English OET) | $30–80 per book |

2. Prep courses (optional but common)

| Provider type | Typical cost | |---|---| | Group online course (8 weeks) | $200–600 | | 1:1 tutoring (hourly) | $30–80/hour | | Full intensive program (6–12 weeks) | $800–2,000 |

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 is another ~$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:

| Item | Best case | Typical | |---|---|---| | First OET sitting | $587 | $587 | | Practice tests + materials | $50 | $150 | | Self-study course or tutor (optional) | $0 | $400 | | Re-sit (likely if scoring near the threshold) | $0 | $587 | | Additional regulator submissions | $0 | $40 | | Total | ~$640 | ~$1,760 |

For most migrating candidates, budget around $1,500–2,000 USD 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

| | OET | IELTS Academic | |---|---|---| | Per-sitting fee | ~$587 | ~$215–280 | | Frequency available | ~16 sittings/year | ~4 sittings/week | | Total typical journey | $1,500–2,000 | $700–1,200 |

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

When the budget is set and Speaking is the bottleneck, join the waitlist.