At Leicester College, we are proud to announce that we are one of the largest centres for the Occupational English Test in the East Midlands area, with plans to expand and become a preparation centre in the future.

The Occupational English Test assesses the language proficiency of healthcare professionals who seek to register and practice in an English-speaking environment. The qualification helps those move into the following healthcare career paths:

• Dentistry
• Dietetics
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Radiography
• Speech Pathology
• Veterinary Science

The OET qualification is recognised across the world by governments, healthcare boards and councils.

Our launch event took place at on Wednesday 3 April 2019 at our Granby Suite based at Freemen’s Park Campus, with food provided by our very own Taste restaurant. In attendance were employers from the following organisations:

• DHU Health Care
• University of Leicester 
• NHS UHL Hospital
• Department of Work and Pensions
• Leicester City Council
• Bluebird Care Leicester
• Pearson Anderson
• Hi Castle Recruitment

William Saville, the Business and Development Manager at Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment also attended. He delivered a presentation to employers about the benefits of the OET to our guests, giving more in-depth information. He also mentioned the differences between IELTS, the OET and how candidates are assessed. Also explaining why the OET would be the preferable accepted test in the healthcare sector.

(Principal Verity Hancock and William Saville)

Our Director of Curriculum in ESOL, Rominder Sandhu also spoke about how Leicester College and OET are working together in partnership, first as a test centre and discussing the potential to become a preparation centre in the future.

(Director of Curriculum in ESOL, Rominder Sandhu)

Kully Sandhu, Vice Principal of Leicester College, said: “We are committed to providing services and offerings that meet the needs of the communities in Leicester. By offering OET at Leicester College, we are enabling health care professionals to demonstrate their English language proficiency for professional registration and employment purposes”.

Following the speeches, we had a networking hour where we were joined by the College Principal, Verity Hancock. A buffet was prepared by our catering students. For more information on exam dates, click here.