English Language Requirement for Health Sciences

All health care workers (native and non-native U.S. English speakers) are expected to use clear communication skills. Students whose native language is not U.S. English are expected to demonstrate "near-native" U.S. English language abilities.

All students submitting an application for NUR classes must complete a form to verify that they meet the English language requirement. The form is attached to the Nursing clinical application. 

On the form, students must check the one choice that applies:

1. My first language is U.S. English, and I have attended and graduated only from a U.S. high school.
2. My first language is NOT U.S. English, but I have attended and graduated only from a U.S. high school.
3. I completed high school outside of the U.S. in a country where English is the official language and the language of instruction, and I speak English.
4. I have graduated from an AAS degree in an Allied Health Science program at a U.S. college
5. I have graduated from a four-year U.S. college or university
6. My first language is NOT U.S. English, and I have attended high school outside the United States.

No action is required from anyone checking any of the first five choices. Those who checked the last choice must meet the English language requirement by taking the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), iBT version.

The GED, an adult high school diploma and/or an online high school from any country does not meet the English language proficiency requirement

You should take the TOEFL iBT as soon as you feel confident about your English language proficiency. NOTE: The TOEFL is not administered on the Wake Tech campus.

To be considered for admission, you must meet the following scoring requirements before you submit a Nursing clinical application:

• Speaking score: 24
• Reading score: 19
• Listening score: 19
• Writing score: 19

Students who do not meet the required scores cannot submit the Nursing clinical application. The Nursing department has found that students who meet the required test scores are more successful in the Nursing program.