• Construction
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Food Service

About the Construction Field

Standards required in the construction field

In the case of No. 1 Specified Technical Foreigners

1. Skill level (test classification)

Foreign nationals must pass the “Construction Field Specified Skills No. 1 Evaluation Test”.
There are a total of 11 categories, divided according to the type of work in which the applicant is involved. (formwork construction or Level 3 (formwork construction), plastering or Level 3 (plastering), concrete pumping, tunnel propulsion, construction machinery construction, earthwork, roofing or Level 3 (roofing), telecommunications, rebar construction, or Level 3 (rebar construction) of the Trade Skill Test) (or Technical Skills Test Level 3 (rebar installation), rebar joints, interior finishing or Technical Skills Test Level 3 (interior finishing construction))

2. Japanese Language Proficiency Level

Pass the “Japan Foundation Basic Japanese Language Test” or the “Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N4 or above)”.

For foreigners with No. 2 specified skills (in addition to the test, work experience is required)

1. Skill level (test category)

Pass the “Construction Field Specified Skills No. 2 Evaluation Test”.
There are a total of 11 categories, divided according to the work to be engaged in. （There are a total of 11 types of skills (formwork construction or Level 1 (formwork construction), plastering or Level 1 (plastering), concrete pumping or Level 1 (concrete pumping construction), tunnel propelling, construction machinery construction, earthwork, roofing, or Level 1 (straw plastering) of the Technical Skills Test). Telecommunications, rebar installation or Trade Skill Test Level 1 (rebar installation), rebar joints, interior finishing or Trade Skill Test Level 1 (interior finishing installation, surface decoration)

2. Skill level (work experience)

The requirement is for practical experience as a person who is engaged in work while supervising multiple construction technicians at a construction site and managing the process (team leader).

These are the standards required for specified skilled foreign nationals.
For more information on the specified skills test, please refer to the following website.
The specific skills test is an item that has yet to be determined. Please note that the outline of the test may be announced only after it has been finalized.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Construction Industry Bureau, Construction Market Development Division, Labor and Materials Office: http://www.mlit.go.jp/totikensangyo/const/totikensangyo_const_tk2_000117.html
JAC Construction Skills Human Resources Organization: https://jac-skill.or.jp/
For those who have completed No. 2 technical training in the construction field, they are considered to meet the standards for both technical skills and Japanese language proficiency, and are not required to take the examination for the specified technical skill No. 1 status.

Specific Skills Tests for Construction 11 Fields

The specific skills test for the construction industry is divided into 11 fields of work.

(1) Formwork construction

Engaging in the production, processing, assembly, or disassembly of formwork for placing concrete under the direction and supervision of an instructor

(2) Plastering

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, engage in marking work and coating work* according to various substrates* such as cement mortar, plaster plaster, ready-mixed mortar, plaster, etc.

(3) Concrete pumping

Under the direction and supervision of a supervisor, workers are engaged in pumping and distributing concrete and other materials into the prescribed formwork of a structure using a concrete pump.

(4) Tunnel propulsion

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, tunnel propulsion workers excavate underground and construct culverts.

(5) Construction equipment installation

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, operate construction equipment and engage in pushing, leveling, loading, excavating, and compacting.

(6) Civil engineering

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, engage in excavation, backfilling, filling, concrete pouring, etc.

(7) Roofing

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, workers are required to install underlayment materials or to cover roofs with tiles or other materials.

(8)Telecommunications

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, engage in telecommunications work such as installation of telecommunications equipment and laying of telecommunications cables.

(9) Rebar installation

To engage in rebar processing and assembly work under the direction and supervision of an instructor

(10) Rebar joints

To engage in welding and pressure welding of rebar under the direction and supervision of an instructor

(11) Interior finishing

Under the direction and supervision of an instructor, engage in plastic floor finishing work, carpet floor finishing work, steel base work, board finishing work, and curtain work

Alternative to the Specified Skill 1 Evaluation Test

In the construction industry, if the applicant can prove that he/she possesses the skills through other evaluation methods instead of the Specified Trade Skill No. 1 evaluation test, he/she meets the requirements for obtaining the Specified Trade Skill No. 1 and can obtain a Specified Trade Skill visa without taking the Specified Trade Skill No. 1 evaluation test.

This other evaluation method corresponds to the “Proficiency Test Level 3” examination. Of the 11 fields in which this proficiency test level 3 is available, five are “formwork construction,” “plastering,” “roofing,” “reinforcing bar construction,” and “interior finishing.
*To obtain a specified technical visa in the other six fields, you must pass the specified technical skill No. 1 evaluation test.

About the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Field

Levels required for the food and beverage manufacturing field

1. Skill level (test classification)

Pass the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Skill Test.

2. Japanese Language Proficiency Level

Pass the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Proficiency Test or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N4 or above).

These are the standards required of specified skilled foreign nationals.
For more information on the specified skills test, please refer to the following website. The specific skills test is an item for which many details have yet to be determined. Please note that the outline of the test may be announced only after it has been finalized.

Food Manufacturing Division, Food Industry Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries http://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/sanki/soumu/tokuteiginou.html
Organization for Technology Assessment and Evaluation of Food Industry Skills for Foreigners (OTAFF) https://otaff.or.jp/
Those who have completed No. 2 technical training in the food and beverage manufacturing sector are considered to have met the standards for both skill level and Japanese language proficiency, so there is no need to take an examination.

About the Food and Beverage Manufacturing Proficiency Test

Qualifications to take the examination

Those who are eligible to take the test in Japan must meet all of the following requirements (1) and (2).

(1) Those who are at least 17 years old on the date of the examination.
(2) Those who have resident status

Examination Contents

The Food and Beverage Industry Skill Test will be conducted by the Food Industry Skill Evaluation Organization for Foreign Nationals. The test will be conducted in the local language, using either the computer-based testing (CBT) method or the paper test method.

It consists of a written test (100 points) and a practical test (50 points).
The academic examination measures knowledge of general hygiene management and occupational health and safety, including HACCP. The practical skills test measures the level of skills required for the job by means of a judgment test to determine the correct course of action in a set of situations using diagrams and illustrations, and a planning test to plan the necessary work using prescribed formulas.

(Item 1) Basic knowledge of food safety and quality control

(1) Necessity of food safety (2) Knowledge of food poisoning

(Item 2) Basics of general hygiene management

(1) Awareness of hygiene and safety before, during, and after work
(2) Approach to 5S activities (3) Contamination control

(Item 3) Basics of manufacturing process control

(1) Raw material management
(2) Manufacturing process control and precautions
(3) Product control
(4) Management of allergenic substances

(Item 4) Hygiene control by HACCP

(1) What is HACCP?
(2) Hazard Factor Analysis
(3) Seven HACCP principles
(4) Basics of HACCP hygiene management

(Item 5) Knowledge of occupational health and safety

(1) Hazard prevention measures in the workplace
(2) Work procedures and 5S
(3) Response to abnormal situations

Food service industry

Standards required in the food service industry

1. Skill level (test classification)

Pass the “Food Service Skills Test”.

2. Japanese Language Proficiency Level

Pass the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Proficiency Test or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N4 or above).

These are the standards required of specified skilled foreign nationals.
For more information on the specified skills test, please refer to the following website. The specific skills test is an item for which many details have yet to be determined.
Please note that the outline of the test may be announced only after it has been finalized.

Food Service Industry Office, Food Culture and Market Development Division, Food Industry Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: http://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/gaisyoku/gaikokujinzai.html
Organization for Technology Assessment and Evaluation of Foreign Food Industry Skills (OTAFF) https://otaff.or.jp/
Those who have completed the food service industry skills assessment test for No. 2 are not required to take the test, as they are considered to have met the standards for both skills and Japanese language proficiency.

About the Food Service Industry Skills Test

Exam Eligibility

Those eligible to take the test must meet the following requirements (1) and (2), and those taking the test in Japan must meet all of the requirements (1) and (2).

(1) Those who are at least 17 years old on the day of the examination.
(2) Those who have resident status

Details of the Examination

The examination questions will be taken from the textbooks (“Hygiene Control,” “Food and Beverage Preparation,” and “General Customer Service”) available on the website of the Japan Food Service Association (JFSA).

Another unique feature of this food service industry skills test is that you can change the score distribution by yourself.
When you apply for the examination, you can choose the type that suits you best from among the three types.

• Type A: Standard points are allocated.
• Type B: Higher score for “Food and Beverage Preparation” and lower score for “General Customer Service”.
• Type C: Higher marks for “general customer service” and lower marks for “food and beverage preparation.

If you are confident and good at “Food and Beverage Preparation,” choose Type B. If you are confident and good at “General Customer Service,” choose Type C.