Professional Qualifications in Japan - INI

[item.doctor]
code=01
slug=doctor
name=Medical Doctor
description=A national qualification that allows exclusive practice of medical procedures.
category=medical
legalBasis=Medical Practitioners' Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
requirements_education=Graduation from medical school (6-year program) or equivalent academic recognition
requirements_examination=National Medical Examination (held around February each year)
requirements_experience=Clinical training (2 years) required
requirements_passRate=Approximately 90% (for new medical school graduates)

[item.pharmacist]
code=02
slug=pharmacist
name=Pharmacist
description=A national qualification for exclusive dispensing and sale of pharmaceuticals.
category=medical
legalBasis=Pharmacists Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
requirements_education=Graduation from pharmacy school (6-year program) or equivalent academic recognition
requirements_examination=National Pharmacist Examination (held around February each year)
requirements_experience=Practical training (hospital and pharmacy internships) required
requirements_passRate=Approximately 70% (overall), approximately 85% (new graduates)

[item.lawyer]
code=03
slug=lawyer
name=Lawyer (Attorney)
description=A national qualification for legal professionals providing legal consultation and litigation representation.
category=legal
legalBasis=Attorney Act
regulatoryBody=Japan Federation of Bar Associations
requirements_education=Graduation from law school (3 years for non-law graduates, 2 years for law graduates) or passing the preliminary examination
requirements_examination=Bar Examination (essay and multiple-choice formats)
requirements_experience=Judicial training (approximately 1 year) required
requirements_passRate=Approximately 20-30% (around 39% in 2023)

[item.certified-public-accountant]
code=04
slug=certified-public-accountant
name=Certified Public Accountant
description=A national qualification for financial auditing and accounting services.
category=financial
legalBasis=Certified Public Accountants Act
regulatoryBody=Financial Services Agency & Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants
requirements_education=No educational requirements (open to all)
requirements_examination=Certified Public Accountant Examination (short-answer and essay formats)
requirements_experience=3+ years practical experience + practical training + passing completion examination
requirements_passRate=Essay examination approximately 10-15%

[item.tax-accountant]
code=05
slug=tax-accountant
name=Tax Accountant
description=A national qualification for tax return preparation and tax consultation.
category=financial
legalBasis=Tax Accountant Act
regulatoryBody=National Tax Agency & Japan Federation of Certified Public Tax Accountants' Associations
requirements_education=University, junior college, or technical college graduation + 1+ social science subject (for tax subjects only)
requirements_examination=Tax Accountant Examination (Bookkeeping, Financial Statements, Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Consumption Tax, etc.)
requirements_experience=2+ years practical experience required after passing examination
requirements_passRate=Approximately 2-3% pass all 5 subjects (around 1.5% in 2024)

[item.social-insurance-labor-consultant]
code=06
slug=social-insurance-labor-consultant
name=Social Insurance Labor Consultant
description=A national qualification for labor management and social insurance procedures.
category=labor
legalBasis=Social Insurance Labor Consultant Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare & National Federation of Social Insurance Labor Consultants Associations
requirements_education=University, junior college, or technical college graduation, or 62+ university credits
requirements_examination=Social Insurance Labor Consultant Examination (held in August each year)
requirements_experience=2+ years practical experience or completion of designated training required after examination
requirements_passRate=Approximately 5-9%

[item.architect]
code=07
slug=architect
name=Architect
description=A national qualification for building design and supervision.
category=technical
legalBasis=Architect Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism & Prefectures
requirements_education=Completion of specified credits in architecture-related subjects at university, junior college, or technical college
requirements_examination=Architect Examination (written and design drafting examinations)
requirements_experience=Practical experience required after examination (2-4 years depending on education)
requirements_passRate=First-Class approximately 15-25%, Second-Class approximately 20-30%

[item.teacher]
code=08
slug=teacher
name=Teacher
description=A national qualification for engaging in school education.
category=education
legalBasis=Educational Personnel Certification Law
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology & Prefectural Boards of Education
requirements_education=Completion of required credits at universities, junior colleges, or graduate schools with teacher training programs
requirements_examination=Teacher Employment Examination (conducted by prefectural boards of education)
requirements_experience=Teaching practice (approximately 3 weeks) and care experience (7+ days) required
requirements_passRate=Teacher employment examinations have competition rates of several to dozens of times

[item.judicial-scrivener]
code=09
slug=judicial-scrivener
name=Judicial Scrivener
description=A national qualification for proxy registration application procedures.
category=legal
legalBasis=Judicial Scrivener Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Justice & Japan Federation of Judicial Scriveners Associations
requirements_education=No educational requirements (open to all)
requirements_examination=Judicial Scrivener Examination (multiple-choice and essay formats)
requirements_experience=Practical training (6+ months) required after examination
requirements_passRate=Approximately 2-4%

[item.administrative-scrivener]
code=10
slug=administrative-scrivener
name=Administrative Scrivener
description=A national qualification for preparing and submitting administrative documents.
category=legal
legalBasis=Administrative Scrivener Act
regulatoryBody=Ministry of Justice & Japan Federation of Administrative Scriveners Associations
requirements_education=No educational requirements (open to all)
requirements_examination=Administrative Scrivener Examination (multiple-choice format)
requirements_experience=No practical experience required (registration only after examination)
requirements_passRate=Approximately 10-15%