IELTS receives clean bill of health from US Citizenship and Immigration
In a major move for those seeking immigration and citizenship in America, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a bureau of the U.S. Office of Homeland Security, has recently listed IELTS band score requirements on its web site for purposes of health care worker certification.
The USCIS is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities. The USCIS website is a reference point for those seeking to work or become citizens in the US. IELTS is now accepted for health care worker certification which identifies and documents that a foreign health care worker has met minimum requirements for English language proficiency in order to be able to fulfil their professional role.
The health care workers included are licensed registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, speech language pathologists, audiologists, medical technologists (clinical laboratory scientists), physician assistant, and medical technicians (clinical laboratory technicians). IELTS is already recognised by the Australian, Canadian, United Kingdom and New Zealand governments for immigration purposes.
The recognition underscores the fact that IELTS is the fastest growing English language proficiency test in the world, with more than half a million candidates sitting the test each year. IELTS is internationally owned and administered through 304 test centres in 113 countries. http://www.ielts.org.
The USCIS web site lists the IELTS score requirements for nursing and health care workers. For example, a licensed registered nurse is required to take the Academic Module and receive an overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking. Health care workers, other than licensed registered nurses, that do not require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree are required to receive an overall score of 6.0 with a spoken band score of 7.0 on either the Academic or General Training Module.
(http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/health_cert.htm )
The posting of IELTS on the USCIS web site and acceptance by the authority is also supported with recent endorsement by key American educational authorities and institutions.
Recent announcements of new universities accepting IELTS brings to 694 the number of American universities and institutions recognising IELTS, including seven of the eight “Ivy League” universities.
IELTS is the globally recognised International English Language Testing System, developed in partnership by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge ESOL.
For Comment and Enquiries:
Sujata Saikia
IELTS Business Development Manager
British Council
Ph: + 44 (0) 20 7389 4870
Email: sujata.saikia@britishcouncil.org
Adrian Armitage
Marketing Manager, IELTS
IDP: IELTS Australia
Ph: + 61 2 6285 8262
Email:adrian.armitage@idp.com
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