If you are a nursing graduate planning to work abroad, Japan may be an option to consider. However, a nursing license obtained outside Japan is not automatically recognized. Foreign-trained nurses must meet Japan’s eligibility requirements, pass the National Nursing Examination in Japanese, and obtain a Japanese nursing license before working as a registered nurse.
Here are the general steps to becoming a nurse in Japan. The exact process differs depending on whether you completed your nursing education abroad or plan to enroll in a nursing program in Japan.
How to Become a Nurse in Japan
Step 1. Complete Schooling and a Nursing Degree
Foreign-trained applicants must first qualify for recognition from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before taking the National Nursing Examination. The current criteria generally require at least 12 years of education before entering nursing school, at least three years of nursing education, and at least 15 total years of education before graduation. The nursing curriculum must generally include at least 102 credits, and the school must be officially recognized by the relevant government or licensing authority in its country or region.
Applicants are generally expected to hold a nursing license in the country or region where they trained. A bachelor’s degree from a university is not always required if the applicant completed an otherwise qualifying nursing education program. There is no general requirement for foreign-trained registered nurses to pass Japan’s assistant nurse examination or complete two years of nursing work in their home country before applying for recognition.
If you are applying to a Japanese nursing school, check the school’s current admissions guide carefully. Requirements differ among institutions and may include proof of Japanese proficiency, academic records, entrance examinations, recommendation letters, and evidence that you can finance your studies.
Do not assume that English is the main language of instruction in a Japanese nursing program or clinical setting. Admissions and teaching languages must be checked with each institution. In addition, the Japanese National Nursing Examination is administered in Japanese. Advanced Japanese proficiency and a strong command of medical terminology are therefore essential. You can learn more about the Japanese educational system and the Japanese language test before applying.
Step 2. Study the Japanese Language and Culture
Japanese proficiency is one of the most important requirements for foreign-trained nurses. Applicants who did not graduate from both a Japanese junior high school and a Japanese high school must currently have Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N1 certification to receive recognition of their eligibility for the National Nursing Examination. N2 is not sufficient for this recognition process.
Nurses must also be able to understand and use Japanese medical terminology. This includes communicating with patients, reading medical records and instructions, documenting care, and working with physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Familiarity with Japanese culture and healthcare communication practices can also help nurses provide respectful, patient-centered care. Nurses should avoid making assumptions about an individual based on nationality or culture and should communicate with each patient according to that patient’s needs, preferences, and circumstances.
Clear communication is particularly important when explaining nursing care, helping patients understand information provided by the medical team, and communicating with family members when appropriate. Nurses must also maintain professional boundaries and protect patient privacy.
Step 3. Pass the National Exam
Foreign-trained nurses must apply to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for recognition of their eligibility before they can take the National Nursing Examination. Required materials include identification, a medical certificate, proof of an overseas nursing license, graduation documents, transcripts and course information, proof that the nursing school was officially recognized, and JLPT N1 documentation when applicable. Japanese translations and officially certified documents may also be required.
Once the Ministry recognizes your eligibility, you may apply for the National Nursing Examination. This is a national examination administered once a year; it does not vary from university to university. After passing the examination, you must apply to have your nursing license registered before you may work as a licensed nurse.
Once you are licensed and have secured qualifying employment, you must obtain the appropriate status of residence. Registered nursing work generally falls under Japan’s Medical Services status of residence. Review the current immigration requirements before you apply for a visa.
Step 4. Pass the National Medical Practitioners Examination
There is no separate National Medical Practitioners Examination that registered nurses must pass after the National Nursing Examination. Japan administers separate national examinations for physicians and nurses. For nursing applicants, the relevant licensing examination is the National Nursing Examination described in Step 3, so this is not an additional examination in the nursing licensing process.
Step 5. Obtain a Medical License
For nurses, the required credential is a Japanese nursing license rather than a physician’s medical license. Passing the National Nursing Examination alone does not authorize you to practice. You must submit a nursing license application and be entered in the official register before beginning licensed nursing work.
A two-year residency in a Japanese hospital is not a licensing requirement for registered nurses. After your license has been registered, you can begin qualifying employment once you have also obtained the appropriate immigration status and completed any employer onboarding or workplace training.
We hope this article on how to become a nurse in Japan was helpful. If you are interested, check out the Available Programs for International Students. Additionally, the Study in Japan Page provides further information about universities and other educational opportunities.
