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Course Admission Requirements

you must have:

  • Satisfactory demonstration of reading, writing and numeracy skills by undertaking a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (LLN)
  • Satisfactory evidence of meeting the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standards.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy

All Diploma of Nursing applicants will need to undertake a specific type of Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (LLN) assessment called a CSPA. This assessment will be provided as part of the application process at TAFE SA. All applicants must meet Exit Level 3 for both Reading and Numeracy, and Exit Level 2 for Writing.

If Reading and Writing levels are not met, you are able to use SACE English for the Reading and Writing components of the Nursing Accreditation Standards, however you will need to undertake Bridging Unit(s) for Subsidised Training funding requirements.

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Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standards

You must demonstrate your English language competency in one of the following ways:

  1. English is your primary language

    You have attended and satisfactorily completed at least 6 years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in of the recognised countries.   At least2 years of evidence must be between years 7 and 12.

Recognised country means one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize ,Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland , Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom , United States of America, US Virgin Islands.

OR

  1.  You have satisfactorily completed an English language test.

    The score you need to achieve depends on which English test you complete. The table below sets out the accepted tests and the relevant minimum scores required in each of the component skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing), and the required overall scores needed.

Minimum test scores for tests taken on or after 23 April 2026.

English Language Tests
TestOverall score neededComponent scores neededTest results accepted from
- one test sitting, or
- a maximum of two test sittings in a 12-month period only if:
Cambridge C1 Advanced
(Paper and computer at test centre only)		Overall: 178

Listening: 175
Reading: 179
Writing: 180
Speaking: 194

  • you are tested in all four components in each sitting
  • you achieve the required minimum scores in each component for listening, reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below:
    • 168 for listening
    • 168 for reading
    • 180 for writing, and
    • 187 for speaking.
Cambridge C2 Proficiency
(Paper and computer at test centre only)		Overall: 185

Listening: 185
Reading: 185
Writing: 176
Speaking: 185

  • you are tested in all four components in each sitting
  • you achieve a minimum score of 185 in each component for listening, reading and speaking and a minimum score of 176 for writing across the two sittings, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below 176.
IELTS
(Academic paper and computer at test centre only)		Overall score of 7

Listening: 7
Reading: 7
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 7

  • you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and
  • you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component for listening, reading and speaking and a minimum score of 6.5 for writing across the two sittings, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below 6.5.
OET
(On paper or computer based in testing centre)
(Any profession-specific OET test can be accepted)		n/a

Listening: 350
Reading: 360
Writing: 350
Speaking: 360

  • you are tested in all four components in each sitting, and
  • you achieve the required minimum scores in each component for listening, reading, writing and speaking, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below:
    • 320 for listening
    • 340 for reading
    • 350 for writing, and
    • 350 for speaking.
PTE Academic
Overall: 63

Listening: 58
Reading: 59
Writing: 60
Speaking: 76

  • a minimum overall score of 63 is achieved in each sitting, and
  • you achieve the required minimum scores in each of the communicative skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any of the communicative skills for either test sitting is below:
    • 53 for listening
    • 54 for reading
    • 60 for writing, and
    • 66 for speaking.
TOEFL iBT
Overall: 91

Listening: 22
Reading: 22
Writing: 23
Speaking: 24

  • a minimum total score of 91 is achieved in each sitting, and
  • you achieve the required minimum scores for listening,
  • reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and
  • when using two test sittings no score in any of the test sitting sections is below:
    • 19 for listening
    • 19 for reading
    • 23 for writing, and
    • 22 for speaking.

See Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Accepted English language tests for detail.

NB English language tests are to be undertaken within 12 months before the course start date. In Semester 2 2026 the course commences on Monday 20 July 2026. In Semester 1 2027 the course commences on Tuesday 27 January 2027. 

What kinds of Evidence can I Submit?

You are required to complete an Evidence Checklist.  All requirements are explained within the checklist. You will be able to access the checklist in your SATAC application.

How do I submit evidence?

Upon submission of your application, you will receive specific instructions on how to submit your evidence.

Useful Links and Contacts

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