Skills Certification System

A national certification system to evaluate the skill level of workers. There are 130 types of exams, including machining, scaffolding, women's and children's clothing manufacturing, bread making, and financial planning (as of 2021). If you pass, you can call yourself a "skilled worker." There are practical and written exams, and some jobs require only one or the other, or some jobs require production work exams, judgment exams, and planning work exams. There are four grades, from special grade to 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade, in descending order of difficulty, and jobs such as cooking, which are difficult to classify, have a single grade. There are also 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and basic grades for foreign technical intern trainees. The special grade is for supervisors and managers, 1st grade and single grades are advanced levels, 2nd grade is intermediate, 3rd grade is beginner, and basic grade is a level that tests basic knowledge and skills. Both the practical and written exams are scored out of 100 points, and in principle, you will pass if you score 60 points or more on the practical exam and 65 points or more on the written exam. The exam requires work experience, which can range from less than six months to more than seven years depending on the job type, grade, and educational background. The standard exam fee is 18,200 yen for practical skills and 3,100 yen for theory (as of 2020), but it varies depending on the job type, grade, and prefecture, and there is also a discount system for young people.

It was established in 1959 (Showa 34) based on the old Vocational Training Act (currently the Vocational Ability Development Promotion Act, Law No. 64 of 1969) with the aim of improving the skills and status of workers. The occupations are constantly being reviewed, and bridal coordination and hotel management were newly added in 2018 (Heisei 30). The Foreign Technical Intern Training Program, introduced in 1993 (Heisei 5), serves as a training and skill certification function for foreigners. The Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare sets the implementation plan, and the prefectural governor carries out the certification. In reality, the Central Vocational Ability Development Association creates the questions, and the Prefectural Vocational Ability Development Association is in charge of the testing. 19 occupations, including web design and piano tuning, are outsourced to the private sector. Special grade, first grade, and single grade skilled workers can display the Good Skill Mark certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on their products to promote their high added value. Skilled workers under the age of 23 can participate in the National Skill Olympics and international competitions. The certification is held twice a year. Approximately 870,000 applicants and approximately 360,000 successful applicants in 2019 (Reiwa 1) (pass rate approximately 42%). The total number of successful candidates is approximately 7.34 million.

[Takeshi Yano April 16, 2021]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

労働者の技能水準を評価する国の検定制度。機械加工、鳶(とび)、婦人子供服製造、パン製造、ファイナンシャル・プランニングなど130職種の試験がある（2021年時点）。合格すれば「技能士」を名のることができる。実技試験と学科試験があり、職種によってどちらか一方や、製作等作業試験、判断等試験、計画立案等作業試験を行う職種もある。難度が高い順に特級、1級、2級、3級の4等級があり、区分がむずかしい調理などの職種は単一等級である。また外国人技能実習生向けに2級、3級、基礎級がある。特級は監督者・管理者向け、1級・単一等級は上級レベル、2級は中級、3級は初級、基礎級は基本的知識・技能を問うレベルとされる。実技・学科試験とも100点満点で、原則、実技試験は60点以上、学科試験は65点以上で合格となる。受検には実務経験が必要とされるが、職種、等級、学歴により、その期間は6か月未満から7年以上とさまざまである。標準受検料は実技1万8200円、学科3100円（2020年時点）だが、職種・等級・都道府県によって異なり、若者向け減額制度もある。

　労働者の技能と地位向上を目的に、旧、職業訓練法（現、職業能力開発促進法、昭和44年法律第64号）に基づき1959年（昭和34）に創設された。職種は絶えず見直され、2018年度（平成30）にブライダルコーディネートやホテル・マネジメントが新設された。1993年（平成5）導入の外国人技能実習制度では、外国人の研修・技能検定機能を果たしている。厚生労働大臣が実施計画を定め、都道府県知事が検定を実施する。実際には中央職業能力開発協会が問題を作成し、都道府県職業能力開発協会が試験業務を担当する。ウェブデザイン、ピアノ調律など19職種は民間に業務委託している。特級、1級、単一等級の技能士は自分の商品に、厚労省認定のグッドスキルマークを表示して高付加価値をアピールできる。23歳以下の技能士は技能五輪全国大会や国際大会に出場可能。検定は年2回実施。2019年度（令和1）の志願者約87万人、合格者約36万人（合格率約42％）。累計合格者は約734万人。

［矢野　武　2021年4月16日］

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