Pharmacists and pharmacist technicians hoping to work in the UK can now opt to prove their competence in English by taking an exam for healthcare specialists, the OET (Occupational English Test).
Designed specifically for healthcare professionals, and owned by Cambridge Boxhill Language Assessment, the OET for pharmacists and pharmacist technicians joins 11 other healthcare roles covered by the test and is now accepted by the General Pharmaceutical Council of Britain.
“It’s essential that healthcare professionals coming to work in an English-speaking environment have the English language skills they need to communicate clearly, and deliver safe and quality care,” says Sujata Stead, CEO of OET. “We’ve designed OET so it reflects the real-life communication scenarios that pharmacists are likely to face, so it’s a really fit for purpose test. This means pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who have passed OET with the required grades will be able to communicate sensitive information with customers, patients and colleagues, which will help them have a positive experience of the sector.”
As well as the UK, the OET is recognised and accepted as proof of the necessary level of English to work in 12 professional healthcare roles in the USA, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Singapore, Malta, Namibia and the Ukraine. Now that’s a useful prescription for unlocking jobs.
