Nurses do not need Grade B in Reading and Writing for Canada
British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives, College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN), College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba, College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Prince Edward Island, College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of PEI, College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador, College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS), Nova Scotia College of Nursing, Nurses Association of New Brunswick, The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Saskatchewan and Yukon Registered Nurses Association accept C+ (300–340) in Reading and Writing, not the Grade B that almost every OET guide quotes. Re-sitting to lift a sub-test to B may be a fee you do not owe.
Every gating body OET lists for nursing in Canada, with the grade each publishes per sub-test. Grade B is 350–440; C+ is 300–340.
| Board | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN) | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Prince Edward Island | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Nurses of Ontario | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Registered Nurses and Midwives of PEI | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland & Labrador | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan (CRNS) | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| Nova Scotia College of Nursing | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| Nurses Association of New Brunswick | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Saskatchewan | B | C+ | C+ | B |
| Yukon Registered Nurses Association | B | C+ | C+ | B |
Visa and government routes
These decide whether you may enter or work, not whether you may register. They publish their own thresholds and they are not always the same, which is why they are listed apart rather than averaged into the answer above.
| Board | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Health Care Aide Directory | C | C | C | C |
| BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry | C | C | C | C |
| Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Agency | C | C | C | C |
| Inspire Global Assessments | B | C+ | C+ | B |
- Compiled from OET's own list of recognising organisations, captured 2026-08-21. Confirm with the regulator before booking — a board can change its requirement between our weekly refresh and your application.
- Some boards accept scores combined across two sittings and some do not. Where that rule matters it is stated on the full regulator list.
The same question, answered for every country that registers nurses.
Or read the full guide: OET for Nursing.
Know the grade. Now go and get it.
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