The Official Worldwide Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Website is operated by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.
What is the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test?
Advantages of JLPT
JLPT certificates offer various advantages, ranging from use in Japan’s immigration procedures, recognition as academic credit and graduation certification at schools to preferential treatment at companies and acknowledgement of qualification in society.
Advantages in Japan
Used in Japan’s immigration procedures
- Under the government’s “Point-based Preferential Immigration Treatment System for Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals”, those who pass JLPT N1earn 15 points, and those who pass N2 earn 10 points. Individuals with a total of 70 points or higher receive preferential treatment under the immigration system.
For more details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website. - Holding JLPT N5 or higher satisfies the language requirement for admission to ‘Japanese language institutions authorized to enroll students with “Student” visa status’.
For more details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website. - Holding JLPT N2 or higher is considered a benchmark for the Japanese language proficiency required for admission to higher education institutions in Japan.
For more details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website. - Holding JLPT N4 or higher meets the Japanese language requirement for obtaining the “Specified Skilled Worker (i)” residence status.
For more details, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.
One of requirements to take Japan's national exams for medical practitioners
A JLPT N1 certificate is required for medical practitioners licensed overseas who want to take Japan's national exams for medical practitioners, and other professions.*
For more details on application requirements for national exams for medical practitioners, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website (Japanese).
*Other national exams that require a JLPT N1 certificate as part of application:
Dentist, nurse, pharmacist, public health nurse, midwife, radiology technologist, dental hygienist, dental technician, clinical laboratory technician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, orthoptist, clinical engineer, prosthetist, emergency medical technician, speech therapist, veterinarian, Veterinary Nurses for Companion Animals
One of requirements to take Japan's prefectural exams for assistant nurses
A JLPT N1 certificate is required for overseas nursing school graduates who want to take Japan's assistant nurse exams.
Exams for assistant nurses are administered by each prefecture. For more details, please contact the prefecture of interest.
A test subject is waived on accreditation exam for completion of junior high school level education in Japan
The Japanese-language test is waived for examinees of foreign citizenship who pass JLPT N1 or N2.
For more details, please refer to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website (Japanese).
One of requirements for the nurse/caregiver candidates under the EPA
Under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, a JLPT certificate is required for Filipino (approximately Level N5 or higher), Indonesian (approximately Level N4 or higher), and Vietnamese (Level N3 or higher) nurse or caregiver candidates who visit Japan.
For more details, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website (Japanese).
