CORU Language Requirements

This language policy takes effect from 08 May 2026 and applies to applications submitted on or after this date.

The CORU Language Requirements as set down below apply to all persons seeking registration under the standard registration route (provided for under section 38 of the Act) and for applicants who apply during the transitional period (section 91 of the Act) who have practiced abroad, relevant under EU Directive 2005/36/EC as amended by EU Directive 2013/55/EU for Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications. The CORU language requirements also apply to persons who have had their international qualifications assessed and recognised by CORU and subsequently seek registration.

As all the professions under CORU have patient safety implications, all CORU Registration Boards are entitled (under S.I. No. 8 of 2017) to carry out language controls to ensure that each applicant has sufficient knowledge of the language necessary to practise their profession in Ireland.

The ability to communicate safely and efficiently in a language of the State is critical to working effectively in Ireland. All applicants shall therefore be subject to the requirement of successfully completing a language test to assure language competence unless either of the conditions I – III below applies to an applicant.

I. The applicant must have completed either a CORU-approved qualification, a Commonly Aligned qualification, or a professional qualification(s)* from an EU country where English is a co-official language.

For applicants from EU/EEA/Switzerland, CORU will also accept evidence of English language competency equivalent to CEFR C1.

II. The applicant can provide a letter from their University confirming that their professional qualification(s)* (on the basis of which he/she is applying for registration) was/were acquired through the medium of English or Irish and that practice placements in that/those qualification(s) were undertaken and supervised through the medium of English or Irish where the qualification was obtained within the previous 2 years.

III. The applicant can provide evidence that he/she has lived in and practised their profession through the medium of English or Irish in an Approved Country of not less than 2 years in the past five-year period

*Professional qualification refers to a formal credential aligned with the profession for which the applicant is seeking registration.

Evidence of I CEFR C1 evidence will normally be in the form of a letter from the college or university that awarded the professional qualification.

Evidence of II above will normally be in the form of a letter from the college or university that awarded the qualification.

Evidence of III will normally be in the form of a letter from one or more employers covering the two-year period confirming that their employment was through the medium of English in an approved country. The approved country list comprises countries where English is the sole official language and is maintained internally by the Executive

If an applicant cannot provide evidence of meeting any of the items (I), (II) or (III) above, then the applicant will be required to take a CORU-approved test of English language proficiency and meet the minimum score for the relevant profession in order to be eligible for registration to the appropriate register. The language requirements for each registration board are presented in this policy.

Linguistic Competence Standard

The general linguistic competence standard for CORU registration boards is set at C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The minimum standard is higher for Speech and Language Therapists due to the requirement for enhanced knowledge of the structure, syntax and grammar of language necessary for the practise of the profession.

The standard is also higher for Radiographers and Radiation Therapists as there is a greater risk to public safety due to the nature of ionising radiation.

Further information about the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is available at: https://www.coe.int/lang-CEFR. CORU will consider professional qualifications in, or through, English if evidenced as equivalent to CEFR C1 from EU Directive applicants only.

Language Requirements Specific to Individual Registration Boards

Registration Board (RB)	Occupational English Test (OET) relevant to the profession	International English Language Testing System (IELTS)	Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
Social Workers RB	No OET test specified for this profession	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Dietitians RB	OET (Dietetics) A minimum of Grade B (350) in three components and a minimum of Grade C+ (300) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Physiotherapists RB	OET (Physiotherapy) A minimum of Grade B (350) in three components and a minimum of Grade C+ (300) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Occupational Therapists RB	OET (Occupational Therapy) A minimum of grade B (350) in three components and a minimum of Grade C+ (300) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Optical RB	OET (Optometry) A minimum of Grade B (350) in three components and a minimum of Grade C+ (300) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Radiographers RB	OET (Radiography) A minimum of Grade B (Minimum Score of 350) in all components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 7.0)	Minimum of Grade C (Minimum Score of 185) on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Speech & Language Therapists RB	OET (Speech Pathology) A minimum of Grade B (400) in three components and B (350) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 8.0 (with no element below 7.5)	Minimum of Grade C (Minimum Score of 185) on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Medical Scientists RB	No OET test specified for this profession	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Podiatrists RB	OET (Podiatry) A minimum of Grade B in three components and a minimum Grade C+ (300) in one component (listening, reading, writing and speaking).	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C Cambridge CEFR C1 Test
Social Care Workers RB	No OET test specified for this profession	IELTS Academic Overall score 7.0 (with no element below 6.5)	Minimum of Grade C on the Cambridge CEFR C1 Test

All language test certificates must be dated within two years of the date an applicant submits their application for registration.

While CORU recognises both IELTS and OET, please note that online/at-home versions are exclusively accepted for the OET; IELTS results must come from a physical test.

Repeat Language Tests

In circumstances where an applicant provides the results of two tests, the results are accepted where the combination of test results demonstrates meeting the test requirements specified above. CORU will accept results from a maximum of two test sittings.

The repeat test:

· must be taken from the same provider as the previous/initial test and

· must be taken within six months of the initial test.

In circumstances where the results of two sittings are provided, the overall minimum score must be met on both test sittings:

· If the test taken is the IELTS, no component score (listening, reading, writing or speaking) can fall below 6.5

· If the test taken is the OET, no subtest score (listening, reading, writing or speaking) can fall below grade C.

· CORU does not accept IELTS One Skill retakes or OET individual sub-tests (Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking)

Providing details to CORU to enable the verification of Test Results

In addition to providing the certificate of results from an approved language test, additional details from the test, specified below, must also be provided to enable the CORU Registration team to verify the test results online.

Language Test	Required Information to Verify Test Results online
OET Occupational English Test	OET Candidate Number which is the 9-digit number noted under candidate name on OET Statement of Results sheet.
IELTS International English Language Testing System	Test Report Form (TRF) Number/OET Candidate Number. The TRF Number is the 15-18 characters (alpha/numeric combination) which is found on the bottom right-hand corner of the Test Report Form.
CAE Cambridge English Advanced	Candidate ID. This is a combination of letters and numbers (e.g. SIR094701) and the Secret number is a 4-digit PIN number (e.g. 8482). Both numbers can be found on the Confirmation of Entry when registering for the exam. Both numbers can be found on the Confirmation of Entry received when registering for exam. If an applicant no longer has their Confirmation of Entry, please advise to contact exam centre to reissue.