What is The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam? What is the test content and the pass certificate of passing?

Hello, this is Kano from JAC (Japan Association for Construction Human Resources).

In order to obtain the "Specified Skills" status of residence, you must pass the "The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam."

This time, we will introduce the contents of The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam and the process from applying for the test to passing.

What is The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam?

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is an examination that foreigners take to obtain a "Specified Skills" residence status.
It measures the skill level of whether you can perform the work smoothly.

However, there are cases where The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is exempted.

Conditions for exemption from The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is exempt when someone who has completed Technical Intern Training (ii) well in the same job category moves to Specified Skills.

Foreigners who have successfully completed the Technical Intern Training (ii) for a related job are considered to already have the "skills to do the job".
Therefore, The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is exempt and you can obtain a "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" status of residence.

What does it mean to "complete Technical Intern Training (ii) well"?

"Good completion of Technical Intern Training (ii)" is a person who has completed a Technical Intern Training for at least 2 years and 10 months and falls under one of the following:

• Passed the Skill Test Level 3
• Equivalent to Skill Test Level 3 Technical Intern Training Passed the practical test of the evaluation test (professional level)

If you have not passed the practical exam, you will be recognized as good if you have an evaluation record* about the Technical Intern Training student.
* Trainees who were Technical Intern Training (including the internship implementing institutions under the former Technical Intern Training system. Documents related to evaluation that describe the status of attendance during training, the acquisition of skills, etc., and the attitude towards life.

For Specified Skills, "What is Specified Skilled Worker System? It is explained in detail.
Please refer to it.

What is the content of The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam?

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is divided into 16 areas.
There are the following skills evaluation exam by field:

• Nursing care field: Nursing care skills evaluation exam
• Building cleaning management Field: Building cleaning management Field The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam
• Manufacturing field: Manufacturing field The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam
• Construction sector: The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry
• Shipbuilding & Marine Industry: Shipbuilding and ship machinery industry Fields Specified Skilled Worker (i) Testing
• Automobile repair and maintenance Field: Automobile repair and maintenance The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam
• Aviation field: Aviation field skills evaluation exam (airport ground handling), Aviation field skills evaluation exam (aircraft maintenance)
• Accommodation sector: Accommodation industry skills assessment test
• Agriculture: Agricultural skills test (general crop farming), agricultural skills test (general livestock farming)
• Fisheries sector: Fisheries skills measurement test (fishing), Fisheries skills measurement test (aquaculture)
• Food and beverage manufacturing: Manufacture of food and beverages Specified Skilled Worker (i) Skill measurement test
• Food service industry Field: Food service industry Specified Skilled Worker (i) Proficiency Measurement Test
• Automobile transportation business: Automobile transportation business Field The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam (Truck) & Class 1 Driver's License, Automobile transportation business Field The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam (Taxi) & Class 2 Driver's License... other
• Railway: Railway sector The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam (track maintenance), Skills test grade 3 (machining)...etc.
• Forestry: Forestry Skills Assessment Test
• Wood industry: Wood industry Specified Skilled Worker (i) Measurement Test

Here, we will introduce the contents of skills evaluation exam The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry Test for reference.

Overview of skills evaluation exam in the Construction Sector (The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry)

skills evaluation exam in the construction field consist of a written test and a practical test.
The exam is conducted in Japanese.

The exam outline is as follows:

The scope of the test in the construction field is divided into three test categories: the business category [civil engineering], the business category [construction], and the business category [Infrastructure Facilities / equipment].

Detailed exam scope can be downloaded from the following page.
The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry

The process from applying for the construction industry The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam to receiving a certificate

We will explain the process from applying for The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam to receiving the pass certificate (certificate of passing), using the construction industry as an example.

We will introduce The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam divided into "taking it in Japan" and "taking it outside Japan."

Steps for taking the exam in Japan

The process from application to receiving your certificate is as follows:

1. Install the smartphone app "JAC Members"
2. Apply to take the exam
3. The exam ticket will be delivered to "JAC Members"
4. Take the exam
5. Test results are sent to "JAC Members"
6. If you pass, a certificate will be sent to "JAC Members".

For instructions on how to install and use the app, please visit the JAC website below.
Introducing the JAC Members app

Steps for taking the exam outside of Japan

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam can be taken outside of Japan through Prometric.
The process from application to receiving your certificate is as follows:

1. Create a Prometric ID
2. Book your exam by 23:59 (Japan time) three business days (Note 1) before the exam date (Note 2)
3. Bring your identification documents (depending on the country) to the test venue
4. Take the exam
5. After the test is completed, the results are displayed on the computer.
6. The result notification will be sent to your Prometric My Page.
   *Results will be sent to you within 5 business days after the test. Please log in to your My Page and check.
7. Apply for a certificate using the smartphone app "JAC Members" (Note 3)
   *Please download your certificate as soon as possible after it is issued and keep it in a safe place.

*Note 1: Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, Japanese holidays, and New Year's holidays.

*Note 2: Please apply for Prometric exams from the following page.
Prometric application page

*Note 3: For instructions on how to register an account, please visit the JAC website below.
Apply for a Certificate (JAC Members)

This exam is offered in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam (as of March 2025). The number of countries offering the exam is expanding, so we recommend checking the official Prometric website for the countries where the exam is offered, detailed information, and the latest exam dates.

In order to obtain the "Specified Skills" residence status, you must also pass a Japanese language test.

The Japanese language test is a common test for all areas of Specified Skills.

You must pass the Japanese Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher or Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT).
*In the nursing care field, you must also pass the "Nursing Care Japanese Assessment Test".

Just like skills evaluation exam, "those who have completed the Technical Intern Training (ii) well" are exempt from Japanese exam.
This is because it is judged that you already have "Japanese skills that will not be difficult to work".

What is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)?

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a test to measure the Japanese language proficiency of people whose native language is not Japanese.

The exam can be taken twice a year, in July and December (however, this may change if you are taking the exam outside of Japan).

The questions are written in Japanese using a multiple choice sheet format.
There are five levels, from N1 to N5, with N1 being the most difficult.

To acquire Specified Skills, you need to be at least N4 level.
N4 is the level where you can understand basic Japanese.

The test subjects and times vary from N1 to N5.

What is Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT)?

Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT) is a test that determines whether a person whose Japanese is not a native speaker has "a certain level of ability to have daily conversations and not interfere with their daily lives".

There is one exam level.
The test is administered using the CBT method, using a computer or tablet.

The questions are written in English, but you can read them in your local language by pressing the "Your Language" button.
Your Language includes the following languages:

• Your Language 1: English, Chinese, Indonesian, Khmer, Mongolian, Burmese, Nepali, Thai, Vietnamese
• Your Language 2: Uzbek, Bengali, Lao, Malay

The exam consists of approximately 50 questions and the test time is 60 minutes.
There are four areas:

• Letters and Vocabulary (about 12 questions)
• Conversation and Expressions (approximately 12 questions)
• Listening comprehension (about 12 questions)
• Reading comprehension (about 12 questions)

There is no time limit for answering each section.

For more information on Japanese language exams, please see "What is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for Foreigners to Take? Introducing the Types and Levels."

Summary: What is The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam? A test required to obtain the "Specified Skills" residence status

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam is a test to determine whether or not you have the skill level for a job.
The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam varies depending on the field of Specified Skills, and in the case of the construction industry, it is the "The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry."

The procedure for taking the exam varies depending on the field.
First, find out about skills evaluation exam in the field you want to take.

Also, if you have not completed your Technical Intern Training well, you must pass the Japanese exam to obtain Specified Skills residency status.
Passing the Japanese Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 or higher or the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT) is required.
Don't forget to study Japanese.

*This article was written based on information from May 2024.

About us, JAC

JAC（Japan Association for Construction Human Resources）is an organization that supports all Specified Skilled Workers working in the Japan construction industry. We work with companies that accept Specified Skilled Workers to create a work environment that is easy for everyone to work in.

We're also taking the exams you need to become a Specified Skilled Workers!

And JAC has received many requests for job offers from companies that want Specified Skilled Workers to work for.
Specified Skilled Workers Wanted! Job Listings

For those of you who want to work in Japan using Specified Skills, we are introducing jobs that match your occupation and aspirations!

If you have any problems, please feel free to contact us!