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How to register for the Tokutei Ginou (SSW), JFT-Basic, JLPT and national certificate exams
A step-by-step guide to registering for the exams for the Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) visa: creating an account, booking a date, paying the fee and getting ready for exam day. Compiled from the official Prometric, OTAFF and JEES websites.
Last checked: 2026-11-02. Schedules and fees can change; check the official page before you register.
- Which exams do I need?
- Exams, where to register and fees
- Registering on Prometric step by step
- Food manufacturing and food service tests in Japan (OTAFF)
- Level (ii) tests: check eligibility first
- National certificates (資格・検定)
- The JLPT Japanese test
- What to bring on exam day
- Key rules
Which exams do I need?
For Specified Skilled Worker (i) you usually need to pass 2 exams:
- The skills test for your field (技能評価試験), e.g. food manufacturing, industrial manufacturing, construction.
- A Japanese test: JFT-Basic, or JLPT N4 or higher. Nursing care (Kaigo) also requires the Kaigo Japanese test (介護日本語評価試験).
If you completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in a related job, you are exempt from the skills and Japanese tests. Ask your employer or supervising organization before you register.
Specified Skilled Worker (ii) has a higher-level skills test only, and requires work experience (see below).
Exams, where to register and fees
| Exam | Where to register | Japan (JPY) | Vietnam (VND) | Indonesia (IDR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese: JFT-BasicJFT-Basic（国際交流基金日本語基礎テスト） · 国際交流基金 | Prometric | 10,000 | 870,000 | 550,000 |
| Japanese: JLPTJLPT（日本語能力試験） · JEES / 国際交流基金 | MyJLPT | See official page | See official page | See official page |
| Nursing care (Kaigo) – skills + Kaigo Japanese介護特定技能評価試験（技能・日本語） · 厚生労働省 | Prometric | 2,000 | 379,500 | 220,000 |
| Food manufacturing (i)飲食料品製造業 特定技能1号 · OTAFF | In Japan: OTAFF MyPage · Abroad: Prometric | 8,000 | 890,000 | 450,000 |
| Food manufacturing (ii)飲食料品製造業 特定技能2号 · OTAFF | In Japan: OTAFF MyPage · Abroad: Prometric | 15,000 | — | — |
| Food service (i)外食業 特定技能1号 · OTAFF | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended | Suspended |
| Food service (ii)外食業 特定技能2号 · OTAFF | In Japan: OTAFF MyPage · Abroad: Prometric | 14,000 | — | — |
| Industrial manufacturing (i)製造分野 特定技能1号評価試験 · JAIM | Prometric | 8,000 | 1,350,000 | 740,000 |
| Industrial manufacturing (ii)製造分野 特定技能2号評価試験 · JAIM | Prometric | 15,000 | — | — |
| BC Kentei (for manufacturing (ii))ビジネス・キャリア検定（特定技能外国人向け） · JAVADA | Prometric | 13,200 | — | — |
| Construction (i)建設分野 特定技能1号評価試験 · JAC | Prometric | 1,000 | 170,000 | 110,000 |
| Construction (ii)建設分野 特定技能2号評価試験 · JAC | Prometric | 1,000 | — | — |
| Agriculture (i)農業技能測定試験 1号 · 全国農業会議所 | Prometric | 8,000 | 664,000 | 450,000 |
| Agriculture (ii)農業技能測定試験 2号 · 全国農業会議所 | Prometric | 15,000 | — | — |
| Accommodation (i)宿泊分野 特定技能1号評価試験 · CAIPT | Prometric | 7,700 | 1,200,000 | 780,000 |
| Accommodation (ii)宿泊分野 特定技能2号評価試験 · CAIPT | Prometric | 15,000 | 2,400,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Automobile maintenance (i)自動車整備分野 特定技能1号評価試験 · 日整連 (JASPA) | Prometric | 4,300 | 710,000 | 450,000 |
| Automobile maintenance (ii)自動車整備分野 特定技能2号評価試験 · 日整連 (JASPA) | Prometric | 4,800 | — | — |
| Automobile transport (driver) (i)自動車運送業分野 特定技能1号評価試験 · 日本海事協会 (ClassNK) | ClassNK | See official page | See official page | See official page |
Kaigo has 2 tests (skills and Kaigo Japanese); the fee is as listed by Prometric. "—" means the test is not held in that country. Tap an exam name to open its official page.
Registering on Prometric step by step
Most SSW tests and JFT-Basic use the Prometric system:
- Create a Prometric ID: open the test page (test list), click 「ID作成」, enter your email, set a 6–14 character password (letters and numbers), choose your nationality and test country, and enter your passport details exactly as in the 2-line MRZ code at the bottom of the passport page. Your ID is sent by email.
- Check the schedule: each test has a booking period and a test period. A ● on the calendar only marks a test date; it does not mean seats are free.
- Log in and book: choose the right test and language. Mistakes cannot be changed or cancelled, and fees are not refunded.
- Pick a date, test center and start time with a free seat.
- Pay by credit card, e-wallet, PayPay or voucher, depending on the country. The booking is confirmed only after payment.
- Download your confirmation (確認書) and keep it until exam day. To change the date use 「変更」 before the change deadline; after it, no changes are possible.
Fees by country: Prometric fee list. Payment methods: by country.
Food manufacturing and food service tests in Japan (OTAFF)
For these tests in Japan you do not use a Prometric ID. Register through the OTAFF MyPage:
- Register an OTAFF personal MyPage (one account per person) and wait for approval.
- Log in and re-register your passport before booking. Name, date of birth and passport number must match the MRZ exactly.
- You are sent to the Prometric booking site: choose the date, time and test center.
- Pay by credit card or PayPay and keep the confirmation (確認書).
Changing the date or center: until 23:59 Japan time, 3 business days before the test (4 business days for tests on weekends or holidays). No cancellations or refunds.
Note: booking for the Food service (i) test is suspended (OTAFF notice of 2026-03-27). Watch the OTAFF website for when it reopens. Food manufacturing (i) abroad is booked on Prometric as usual.
Level (ii) tests: check eligibility first
- Most (ii) tests are held only in Japan and require work experience, usually 2–3 years including guiding or supervising others. The exact period depends on the field.
- Many require documents to be checked before booking. For example: industrial manufacturing (ii) needs a 「受験資格確認番号」 from the manufacturing portal; agriculture (ii) sends documents to 全国農業会議所; food manufacturing and food service (ii) need company and candidate registration first.
- The experience certificate is usually issued by your employer. Ask early, as the review takes time.
National certificates (資格・検定)
| Exam | How to apply and schedule | Fee (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Care Worker 介護福祉士介護福祉士国家試験 · 社会福祉振興・試験センター | Apply online on the SSSC website. Once a year: for the 39th exam, applications run 22 Jul–2 Sep 2026, the exam is on 31 Jan 2027 and results come out on 23 Mar 2027. Pay by credit card or at a convenience store. | 20,510 |
| Class 2 Electrician第二種電気工事士 · 電気技術者試験センター | Apply online through the ECEE MyPage. Twice a year: first half, applications from about mid-March to early April; second half, from about mid-August to early September. The written test is CBT or paper, followed by a practical test. | 11,100 |
| Class 1 Electrician第一種電気工事士 · 電気技術者試験センター | Apply online through the ECEE MyPage. Twice a year: in 2026 the first half took applications 30 Jan–16 Feb (CBT written test 1 Apr–8 May) and the second half 21 Jul–6 Aug (CBT 11 Sep–18 Oct). From 2027 the written test is CBT only. Passing the written test exempts you from it for the next 2 sessions. | 13,000 |
| 技能検定 (National Trade Skills Test)技能検定（鉄筋施工・電気機器組立て など） · 都道府県職業能力開発協会 | Apply to your prefecture’s Vocational Ability Development Association (職業能力開発協会), not to JAVADA. First half: applications early to mid-April; second half: early to mid-October. Each trade is held in only one of the two. | 18,200 + 3,100 |
| BC Kentei Grade 3 (paper, open to all)ビジネス・キャリア検定 3級（一般） · JAVADA | Apply online with JAVADA. The first-half exam is in October (2026 applications 20 Apr–10 Jul); the second-half exam is around February. | 7,920 + 400 |
| BC Kentei Grade 3 for SSW (ii)ビジネス・キャリア検定 3級（特定技能2号向け CBT） · JAVADA / Prometric | Computer-based at Prometric; a Prometric ID is required. 4 rounds a year; round 3 of 2026: apply 20 Nov 2026–12 Jan 2027, exam 12–18 Jan 2027. | 13,200 |
The 技能検定 fee is the standard amount (practical + written) and can differ by prefecture. The paper BC Kentei adds a 400 yen application fee.
- 介護福祉士: usually requires 3 years of care work (at least 540 working days) and the 実務者研修 course. When applying, foreign nationals can request a test paper with furigana and 1.5× the time (upload a copy of your residence card). First-time candidates must take all parts.
- Class 2 Electrician: 11,100 yen online (12,500 yen by paper application). The standard written test has no furigana; check the ECEE guide for support for foreign candidates.
- Class 1 Electrician: 13,000 yen online. The CBT test cannot show furigana. To receive the licence (免状) you also need 3 years of practical experience in electrical work.
- 技能検定: technical intern trainees and SSW workers usually take the 随時 (on-demand) test, arranged by their supervising organization or employer. Ask your employer first.
- BC Kentei Grade 3 is required to move up to SSW (ii) in industrial manufacturing (exam route). The SSW version is computer-based and has furigana.
The JLPT Japanese test
- Held twice a year, on the first Sunday of July and of December. In 2026: 5 July and 6 December.
- In Japan: create a MyJLPT account on the JEES website, apply and pay online. The admission ticket (受験票) comes by post.
- The application window is short and seats run out fast: the December 2026 session opened on 24 August and had closed by 3 September. Watch the JEES site in advance.
- In 2026 the JLPT in Japan is mainly for mid- to long-term residents. You can take only one level per session.
- For a faster option choose JFT-Basic: held almost every month on computer at Prometric, with the result right after the test.
What to bring on exam day
- Original passport, and your residence card (在留カード) when testing in Japan. Copies or phone photos are not accepted.
- Your confirmation (確認書), printed or on your phone.
- Arrive early: Prometric checks in candidates only from 45 to 30 minutes before the start time. Later than that, you cannot take the test.
- Put your phone, pens, watch and calculator in the locker. Taking them into the room counts as cheating. Staff do a security check and take your photo before you enter.
- Results: some tests show the result on screen; others give a result notice (結果通知書) on MyPage within about 5 business days.
Key rules
- One account per person. Multiple Prometric IDs or OTAFF MyPages count as cheating and can lead to cancelled results and a ban (OTAFF: up to 5 years).
- Retake after 45 days: if you fail, wait 45 days counted from the day after the test, so you can retake the same test from day 46.
- Once paid, bookings cannot be cancelled or refunded, even if you are absent.
- Forging a result notice leads to a 5-year ban.
- Passing does not guarantee the visa. Immigration reviews your application separately.
Practice before you register
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