OET Fees in Kenya 2026: Complete, Easy Cost Guide for Nurses in KSh

Updated 1 November 2026

OET fees in Kenya: the full Occupational English Test costs AUD 587, about KSh 53,700, whether you sit it on paper, on computer at a venue or from home (OET@Home). Kenya falls under OET’s “rest of the world” pricing, so there is no separate KSh price and you pay in Australian dollars by card or bank transfer. Retaking single sub-tests on paper costs AUD 315 to AUD 515.

OET is the English test built for healthcare workers, and it is one of only two tests the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) accepts. This guide sets out every OET fee a Kenyan nurse, doctor or other health worker can face, the scores the NMC wants, and the reschedule and refund rules. Fees were checked on November 1, 2026 on oet.com and OET’s support pages. KSh figures use the Reserve Bank of Australia rate of USD 0.7040 per Australian dollar and the Central Bank of Kenya rate of KSh 129.95 per US dollar, both for October 30, 2026 (about KSh 91.48 per AUD). Your card or bank will apply its own rate and fees.

OET Fees in Kenya at a Glance

The single sub-test prices include OET’s AUD 7 online booking fee, and you can only book them after you have taken a full OET Test. Check that your regulator accepts results from fewer than four sub-tests before you book one.

OET Formats and OET Fees in Kenya by Format

• OET on Paper: taken at an approved test centre. Bookings close 24 days before the test. Results come from 13 days after the test date for candidates outside India and the Philippines.
• OET on Computer at a venue: Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer at a venue. Bookings close 7 days before. OET announced on July 20, 2026 that candidates in Kenya can now also take the Speaking sub-test at a venue instead of at home.
• OET@Home: the full test online with remote proctoring on your own computer, bookable up to 7 days before, with results from 48 hours after the last sub-test. OET says it is offered where a venue test is not available, and not every regulator accepts it.

OET fees in Kenya are the same AUD 587 for all three formats. The NMC accepts all three. If you are applying elsewhere, confirm your regulator accepts OET@Home before you pay.

OET Scores the NMC Requires From Kenyan Nurses

The NMC says applicants must take the Nursing version of OET and reach these grades:

You can combine results from two sittings taken within 12 months of each other, as long as you sat all four sub-tests both times, hit each required grade at least once, and never fell below C+ in Listening, Reading and Speaking or below C (250) in Writing. Results must be no more than two years old when the NMC assesses your application. You cannot combine an OET result with an IELTS result. For the IELTS route (7 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 6.5 in Writing), see our guide to IELTS fees in Kenya.

OET Fees in Kenya if You Need a Second Attempt

Many candidates miss one grade the first time. Here is what the budget looks like on OET’s published fees:

When budgeting OET fees in Kenya for the NMC, plan on the full-test figure, because the NMC only combines sittings where all four sub-tests were taken.

OET Fees in Kenya for Rescheduling, Cancelling and Refunds

• Reschedule: AUD 120 before bookings close, AUD 200 after. Paper tests can be moved up to 11:59pm the day before; computer and home tests up to two days before. You can reschedule only once, and not on a discount-code booking.
• Cancel a full test: refund of AUD 460 before bookings close, or AUD 380 after. Paper tests can be cancelled up to a week before; computer and home tests up to two days before.
• Refund timing: back to the card you used within 7 to 10 business days.
• Group or employer payment: OET accepts third-party payments, and the application and payment must reach OET 14 days before the closing date.

How to Pay OET Fees in Kenya

You book and pay in your OET account. Card payment is the quickest; a Visa or Mastercard debit card from a Kenyan bank works if it is enabled for international online payments, and your bank charges its own exchange rate. Bank transfer is available for applications, with OET emailing an invoice. Some employers and recruiters pay for or refund the test, so ask before you pay. Never pay an agent for a “guaranteed” OET result: check that a recruitment agency is NEA-licensed, and read the recruitment agency fee rules before you agree to any deduction.

OET vs IELTS: Which Is Cheaper for Kenyans?

With OET fees in Kenya at about KSh 53,700 is usually dearer than the IELTS test in Kenya; our IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL vs Duolingo guide compares the local fees. OET’s advantage is that every task is set in a healthcare setting, such as a referral letter and patient role-plays, which many nurses find easier than academic essays. For jobs in the Gulf, see nursing jobs in Saudi Arabia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the OET fees in Kenya?

AUD 587 for the full test, about KSh 53,700 at October 30, 2026 rates. The fee is the same for paper, computer and home formats.

Can I pay OET fees in Kenyan shillings?

No. Kenya is under OET’s rest-of-the-world pricing in Australian dollars. Your card converts the payment.

What OET score does the NMC require?

Grade B (350) in Listening, Reading and Speaking and C+ (300) in Writing, on the Nursing version.

Can I take the OET Speaking test at a venue in Kenya?

Yes. OET said on July 20, 2026 that OET on Computer candidates in Kenya can take Speaking at a test venue.

How much do I get back if I cancel my OET test?

AUD 460 if you cancel before bookings close, or AUD 380 after.

We recheck OET fees in Kenya when OET changes its price list. Looking for healthcare jobs at home or abroad? Browse openings on JobinKenya.