The Oral English Proficiency Program (OEPP) implements the University's policy on oral English proficiency for international teaching assistants or instructors.

Specifically, the OEPP provides oral English proficiency screening services to all departments on campus employing international teaching assistants (ITAs) whose first language is not English, certifies the oral English proficiency of ITAs whose first language is not English, offers English instruction to ITAs whose first language is not English, and documents departmental compliance with the University policy on oral English proficiency.

 Students may be certified by either receiving a 27 or higher on the speaking subsection of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) or receiving an 8.0 or higher on the speaking band score of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Those students who are admitted but have not met the required speaking score minimums for ITA certification are required to take the Oral English Proficiency Test (OEPT).

Students who do not pass the OEPT are required to enroll in SCLA 620 "Academic and Professional Communication for International Teaching Assistants" to achieve certification. At the end of the course, the student’s performance is evaluated against the criteria for certification.

See the chart below for the scores that are accepted for certification.

SCLA 620 is a 5 credit hour course. However, because the grade for this course is either, P (pass) or NP (not pass), these credits do not count towards a plan of study or factor in to a student's GPA. These credits are counted towards the minimum credit hours required of international graduate students per semester.

No. The Department of Mathematics and the School of Languages and Cultures use approved alternative departmental screening procedures that meet the unique needs of their units. Therefore, students certified through these units are certified only to be teaching assistants in the unit conducting the screening. Students who wish to be teaching assistants in other university departments must be certified by one of the methods shown on the chart above.

Yes. Students who do not speak English as their first language must be certified in oral English proficiency in order to hold a position as a classroom instructor, lab instructor, or recitation leader. Receiving a degree from an educational institution where English is the language of instruction, in the U.S. or any other country, does not exempt students from this requirement. Because the requirements for admission and certification are different, this policy applies even if the student was exempted from the TOEFL requirement for admission.

The University's policy is not based on citizenship or resident status, but instead on the student's first language. If the student did not grow up speaking English in the home as their first language, they are required to be certified before holding a TA position that involves the direct instruction of undergraduate students.

The OEPT is a computer-based test used by the OEPP to screen prospective ITAs for English language proficiency. While taking the test, candidates speak their responses to eight questions that require them to understand and produce the type of language used for instructional purposes. The responses are recorded and evaluated by at least two trained raters.

A score of 50 or 55 means a student is certified for oral English proficiency at Purdue University. A score of 35, 40, or 45 means the student is not certified. Those who score 40 or 45 are recommended to be enrolled in SCLA 620 to improve their language skills. Those who score 35 may retest after six months and are encouraged to take advantage of the other resources available to them.  To view the OEPT scale, click here.

The OEPT is offered throughout the year. Notices of testing dates are sent to departments prior to each screening period. The schedule is also available on our website.

If your department wishes to hire you as a teaching assistant, the department will contact the OEPP to schedule a time for you to take the test. Contact the graduate studies office of your department for more information. More information on test registration can be found on the OEPT schedule page.

It is very important for students to prepare for the OEPT by using the OEPT online practice test. Students who are newly arrived on campus should be given at least 48 hours to rest and recover from jet lag prior to being scheduled for the test. Click here to view or download a copy of the OEPP's brochure on how to prepare for the OEPT.

Students who score 40 or 45 are encouraged to enroll in SCLA 620. At the end of the semester of instruction, reconsideration for certification is made on the basis of the student's performance in the course. Students who score 35 may retake the test after six months.

Students who score a 35, 40, or 45 may retake the OEPT after after six months. Please see the OEPT Retest Policy page for more information.

Space in SCLA 620 is limited, so the OEPP works with department liaisons to identify the students who most need to be enrolled in SCLA 620. Click here for complete registration instructions.

Visit our Community Resources page for more information. Students may also wish to consider private tutoring. The OEPP maintains a list of private tutors who offer ESL instruction for a fee.