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) in the same job category successfully 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.
* Documents related to the evaluation of the trainees who were conducting Technical Intern Training (including the internship implementing institutions under the former Technical Intern Training system) that describe their attendance during the training, the acquisition of skills, etc., and their lifestyle attitude.

Specified Skills is explained in detail here.
What is Specified Skilled Worker System? I'll explain it in an easy-to-understand way
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.

The Specified Skills Evaluation Exam can be taken at the Prometric Test Center.
From application to receiving a certificate of acceptance, the process is as follows.

1. Create a Prometric ID
   *It is prohibited to obtain multiple Prometric IDs. If one person obtains multiple IDs and takes the exam, the exam results will be invalid and you will lose your eligibility to take exams for a certain period of time.
2. Book your exam by 23:59 (Japan time) three business days prior to the exam date.​
3. Bring your identification documents (which vary depending on the country you are taking the test in) 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.
   *Please log in to your My Page and check your result notification within five business days after the exam.
7. Apply for a certificate of passing 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 are days excluding Saturdays, Sundays, Japan holidays, and year-end and New Year holidays.

*Note 2: Please apply for the Prometric exam from the following page.
Prometric Application Page (The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry)
Prometric Application Page (The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry)

*Note 3: Please check the following JAC website for how to register an account.
Apply for a Certificate of Acceptance (JAC Members)

The process is the same whether you are taking the exam in Japan or outside of Japan.

The trial will be conducted at 95 Prometric Centers in Japan, as well as in the following countries (as of December 2025).
* The Specified Skills (ii) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry will be implemented only in Japan countries.

• Bangladesh
• Cambodia
• India
• Indonesia
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Philippines
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Pakistan

The number of countries where the test is held is expanded, and we recommend that you check the official Prometric website for detailed information and the latest test schedule.
Prometric official website "The Specified Skills (i) Evaluation Exam for Construction Industry "

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.

More information about the Japanese language test can be found here.
What is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for Foreigners? 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 updated in December 2025.

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!