Specified Skilled Worker Test by Field: Which SSW Exams You Need

For the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa (特定技能1号, tokutei ginou), you need two passes: a Japanese test and the skills test for your job field. The Japanese test is JFT-Basic with a total of 200 or more, or JLPT N4 or higher. Nursing care (介護, kaigo) adds a third test: the Care Japanese Language Evaluation Test.

This post answers the practical questions: which skills test, who runs it, what language it is in, and where to book it. For the full list of fields and the 2026 changes, see our SSW fields guide. For the visa steps, see JFT-Basic and the SSW visa.

The 3-question test path

Answer these in order and you know your tests:

1. Did you satisfactorily complete Technical Intern Training (ii)? If yes, and you stay in the related field, the official SSW portal says you do not need the tests. Changing field? You need that field's skills test.
2. Which field? Each of the 19 fields has its own skills test. Pick the field first, because it decides your skills test, its language and where you can sit it.
3. Does your job need extra Japanese? Nursing care needs the care Japanese test. Bus, taxi and railway transport jobs need more than A2 (details below). Everyone else needs JFT-Basic 200+ or JLPT N4.

The Japanese test: same for every field

Every SSW (i) field accepts the same two Japanese tests:

• JFT-Basic, total 200 or more (level A2.2, shown as A2). It is a computer test of about 50 questions in 60 minutes, held in 14 countries.
• JLPT N4 or higher. It is a paper test with fewer dates a year.

There is no minimum score per section on JFT-Basic. Only the total counts. If you are choosing, read JFT-Basic vs JLPT N4.

Skills tests, field by field

This table goes one step past the field list. It shows the test body, the test language and where to book. The information comes from the SSW portal's test page and each test body's own page, checked on 31 October 2026. Test bodies change dates and centres often, so always confirm on their site before you pay.

What the table means in practice

Most skills tests are in Japanese. So your Japanese study helps twice: for JFT-Basic and for the skills test. Building cleaning puts hiragana readings on kanji. ClassNK's driving tests do the same.

Two tests come in your language. The Care Skills Evaluation Test is offered in Japanese, English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, Burmese, Mongolian, Nepali, Khmer, Chinese, Uzbek, Bengali and Urdu. The Agriculture Skill Assessment Test adds Sinhala, Tamil and Hindi to a similar list. But agriculture also has listening questions with work instructions spoken in Japanese.

Booking platforms differ. Most tests use Prometric, the same company that runs JFT-Basic. Building cleaning moved to Pearson VUE. The driving tests are booked on ClassNK's own portal.

Sample formats and fees we could verify

Only some test bodies publish full details in English. Here is what we confirmed on official pages:

• Care Skills Evaluation Test: 45 questions, 60 minutes. Care Japanese test: 15 questions, 30 minutes.
• Construction (i): 30 written and 20 practical questions, all on a computer. JAC states a pass mark of 65% in each part.
• Industrial Product Manufacturing (i): 30 written and 10 practical questions, 40 minutes each. Next windows: 9–15 November 2026, then around February 2027.
• Building Cleaning (i): 20 written and 30 practical questions on a computer, 60% to pass each. Fee: JPY 4,400 in Japan, USD 30 abroad.
• Automobile Transportation (i): 30 true/false and 20 three-choice questions in 80 minutes, 60% to pass each part. Fee (as of 9 March 2026): JPY 5,000 plus tax in Japan, USD 37 abroad. You must hold a valid driving licence on test day.
• Agriculture Level 1: about 70 questions in 60 minutes.

The "practical" parts are mostly picture and situation questions on screen, not hands-on work. Building cleaning says so directly.

Fields that need more than A2 Japanese

Taxi and bus drivers. The Immigration Services Agency lists JLPT N3 or higher for these jobs. It also describes a route with JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4, but only when the employer applies extra measures set in the official guideline. Taxi and bus drivers also need a Japanese second-class licence and new-driver training. Truck drivers need the standard Japanese level and a first-class licence.

Railway transport staff. The SSW portal lists JLPT N3 for this job type.

From 1 April 2027, the Agency says Certificate of Eligibility applications for these transport jobs need Japanese at B1 or higher. JFT-Basic's top band is A2, so plan for JLPT N3 if you want to drive passengers.

Which skills tests are held in my country?

This is a snapshot of the SSW portal's October–November 2026 schedule for four large sending countries. "Yes" means at least one date was listed there.

A "No" can change next round. If your field has no date in your country, check the test body's site every month, or ask your future employer about taking the test in Japan.

Each country also has its own sending rules. Filipino workers, for example, go through a licensed agency registered with the Department of Migrant Workers. Our country pages cover the local details: Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal and Indonesia.

The Technical Intern Training exemption

The official SSW portal states it plainly. If you satisfactorily completed Technical Intern Training (ii), you do not need to pass the SSW (i) tests. To work in a different field, you need that field's skills test.

Two practical tips:

• Keep your training documents. Your employer will need them for the visa application.
• If you are not sure your training "counts" for the field you want, ask your supervising organisation or the Immigration Services Agency before you skip a test.

A sensible order for your tests

Most successful candidates follow this order:

1. Choose your field

   Check that its skills test is held in your country, in a language you can manage. Use the tables above and the fields guide.

2. Pass the Japanese test

   JFT-Basic runs often and is the same for every field. Start with a free practice test to see your level.

3. Book the skills test

   Look for the test body's free study textbook (many publish one). Book early: seats in popular countries fill fast.

4. Care candidates: add the care Japanese test

   Book it with the care skills test on Prometric.

5. Prepare for the interview

   Learn the words of your workplace before you meet employers.

Start with the test every field shares

Whatever field you choose, the Japanese test comes first for most people. Find out where you stand today: the free practice test takes about 15 minutes and gives you a score estimate.