Become a Certified Care Workers in Japan, The Japan Association of Training Institutions for Certified Care Workers

MESSAGE

As the world’s aging population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate,
the so called 'silver industry' (industry for the elderly) is becoming a sunrise industry.
The systematic theory, professional knowledge,
and advanced technology you need to master to work
in the silver industry in Japan - the world's first super-aged society - will open doors
for you in the international health care scene and allow
you to become a leader in the silver industry in your home country in the future!!

MOVIE

Become a Certified Care
Worker in Japan

ABOUT

Certified Care Worker is a national qualification established by the Japanese government in anticipation of the coming aged society.
It provides proof that one is an advanced professional who is qualified to provide general living support for elderly people and people with disabilities.
Besides physical care covering meals and bathing, Certified Care Workers must be competent in other fields such as medical,
dementia, and hospice care as well as service management, psychological, and mental to provide a comprehensive approach.
As of April 2018 around 1.6 million Care Workers have been certified in Japan, and they are now becoming the core force supporting the care industry in the country.
If a foreign national acquires this certificate, they can work in Japan long-term or permanently as well.

For more details, please download the PDF

Benefits guaranteed to
Certified Care Workers in Japan

Obtain a working VISA

A revision of the Immigration Law of Japan from 2017 guarantees a work visa for any foreigner who passes the National Exam for Care Worker Certification. Family members are allowed to accompany.
Guaranteed stable income.

Care professional shortages have already become a serious problem in Japan, and the need of care workers is only going to grow in the future. Japan is in desperate need of thousands of care professionals. As a result,Certified Care Workers can always find a job and the benefits they enjoy are sure to increase.
Guaranteed future in homeland

As the world's aging population continues to grow, international care professionals equipped with learning and work experience in Japan will be a welcomed asset in any country around the globe including their own country.

CAREER

Career Path Plan for the first 3 years in Japan
(as a student)

	1st year	2nd to 3rd year
VISA	Student VISA	Student VISA
Affiliated department	Japanese Language School	Welfare College
Main activities	● Learning the Japanese language at school ● Basic practical training at the nursing facility (such as cleaning and bed making)	● Learning nursing, medical and communicational skills at school ● Actual practice at the nursing facility (body care)
Monthly income	Around 100,000 yen	Around 100,000 yen
Application for scholarships	Available	Available
Working hours	28 hours per week	28 hours per week

Career Path Plan from the 4th year
(as full-time employee)

	4th to 10th year	from 10th year
VISA	Working VISA	Working VISA
Affiliated department	Nursing facility	Nursing facility
Main activities	● Regular Employee (Start to work in nursing facility officially, provide care service as a professional care worker.)	● Team Leader,Manager,Director (Responsible for the education of new staff, creating the care plan for the clients independently, the comprehensive management of the nursing facility.)
Yearly income	yearly income 2,500,000~4,000,000 yen	yearly income 4,000,000~10,000,000 yen
Working time	40 hours per week	40 hours per week

Difference between technical intern trainee visa and student visa


Working period	basic 3 years (maximum 5 years, visa non-renewable)	5 years maximum (visa renewable)
Monthly salary	around 150,000 yen (further discussion needed concerning salary increase and bonus)	around 220,000 yen (salary increase and bonus possible)
Japanese language ability	N4 is required when entering the country, N3 is required one year later	N2 is required before entering the welfare college
Processing period	4 to 6 months after the interview （ Japanese language education included ）	Entry with a student visa → welfare college (2 years), Care Worker Certification acquisition
Scholarship	N/A	Available
Accompanied family member	Impossible	Possible
Application method	Apply through a specified organization in homeland	Apply directly through welfare college in japan

Technical intern trainee VISA

Working period	basic 3 years （maximum 5 years, visa non-renewable）
Monthly salary	around 150,000 yen （further discussion needed concerning salary increase and bonus）
Japanese language ability	N4 is required when entering the country, N3 is required one year later
Processing period	4 to 6 months after the interview （Japanese education included ）
Scholarship	N/A
Accompanied family member	Impossible
Application method	Apply through a specified organization in homeland

Student VISA

Working period	5 years maximum (visa renewable)
Monthly salary	around 220,000 yen (salary increase and bonus possible)
Japanese language ability	N2 is required before entering the welfare college
Processing period	Entry with a student visa → welfare college (2 years),　　　 Care Worker Certification acquisition
Scholarship	Acquisition
Accompanied family member	Possible
Application method	Apply directly through welfare college in japan

VOICE

Voices of foreign students who are already working at a Japanese nursing facility

TANG JINGHAN

nationality：China

Q Why did you come to Japan?: After studying Japanese in college, I worked in IT for ten years, but then decided to change jobs. I found a job doing nursing care, and since China will soon have significant aging challenges similar to those faced by Japan, I think studying nursing here is a great opportunity.
Q How did you become interested in nursing care?: There is a rapidly growing need for nursing care workers and facilities in China. I’ve heard that Japanese nursing techniques and knowledges are the best in the world.
Q What is your daily schedule?: I wake up around 8. My classes are from 9:30 to 3. After that I go home, buy dinner, study some, and relax. I have good relationships with my classmates. There are six other Chinese people, and I’m also making friends with my classmates from other countries.
Q Is there anything in your study of nursing care that you find particularly challenging or interesting?: The academic content is difficult, but I’m here because I want to be, and I’m studying hard. When I was in China I assumed that Japanese nursing care makes extensive use of machinery and technology. But instead, I’m learning that special emphasis is placed on interpersonal interactions and a human touch.
Politeness and respect are very much characteristic of Japanese nursing care. I hope to bring this respect for dignity and human rights back with me to China.
Q What kind of goals or dreams do you have for the future?: First, I want to pass the Japanese national nursing exam. This is an important nursing care qualification administered by Japan, and I absolutely want to earn it as proof of my ability. After that, I want to work in a real nursing home. I haven’t decided what to do after that, but some day I hope to build nursing facilities back in China.
Q Do you have any advice for foreign students who are wondering whether or not to study nursing care in Japan?: What you learn studying nursing care in Japan will be useful throughout your life, even if you don’t directly apply it to future work. I highly recommend coming here to study. Right now, I am studying communication. This has helped me understand how people interact, and to appreciate the perspectives of others. I believe that knowledge and technology can be used to communicate across lifestyles, places, and times, to understand the feelings of others.

GURUNG RUPA

nationality：Nepal

Q Why did you come to Japan?: I am a Nepalese nursing student studying abroad here. According to both Japanese people living in Nepal and Nepalese people living in Japan, Japan is much safer than Nepal. It is even quite safe here for women, which is one of the main reasons I came here. I also wanted to go abroad.
Q How did you become interested in nursing care?: I had always planned on studying general nursing, but I didn’t know there were schools specializing in elder care and caregiving. When I worked as a part-time caregiver at a group home, talking with the residents made me feel happy and I knew I wanted to be a caregiver. I enjoy talking with clients. Nursing care is really rewarding work, because I can always directly feel the value of what I’m called to do.
Q Is there anything in your study of nursing care that you find particularly challenging or interesting?: From the start of my real work, I realized I didn’t want to be separated from my clients. Rather, I always want to make them feel secure. I have become much more gentle than before, and my daily work feels almost like I’m supporting my own family. I always want to preserve this feeling of a gentle heart, going forward.
Q What kind of goals or dreams do you have for the future?: I’m going to take the national certification exam for nursing care workers. I want to make use of the knowledge I’ve studied.
Do you have any advice for foreign students who are wondering whether or not to study nursing care in Japan?: Because working in nursing care is all about helping people, I think it’s a great field for people who genuinely want to support others. Since coming to Japan, I’ve really deepened my understanding of nursing care. In Nepal, there are many elderly people without families, just sitting on the road. I want to learn top nursing care techniques in Japan, and then to return to my country to support the elderly. In the future, Nepal, too, will become an aged society. Studying nursing care gives you skills that will absolutely be useful in any country.

DAO VAN TUOWG

nationality：Vietnam

Q Why did you come to Japan?: When I was a child, I liked Japanese anime and manga. So, I went on to study Japanese, and, I decided to study abroad here.
Q How did you become interested in nursing care?: Interviewing at vocational school, I was told that Japanese nursing care techniques and knowledge are unique, and I wanted to learn more. When I was studying as a nursing specialist in Vietnam, I decided to come to Japan to study the more specialist medical side of nursing.
Q What was your impression of Japan before coming here?: I had an image of strict rules and stricter people. But in reality, while Japanese people are sometimes serious, they are very kind and will always help foreigners.
Q Is there anything in your study of nursing care that you find particularly challenging or interesting?: It’s really interesting to talk with grandmothers and grandfathers in my practice. They tell all sorts of stories, about what Japan used to be like, or about their work. It makes me want to work harder.
Q What do you find difficult or rewarding in your part-time work or your personal life?: It can sometimes be a little hard to live and work in a foreign country because the language, culture and environment are so different. But, on the other hand, I get experience lots of new things. It’s also fun to have other Vietnamese classmates here with me, because we can communicate easily and have parties. Also, many Japanese people are very kind to me and teach me a lot, and my teachers at school are very helpful, so I’m all right.
Q What memories from your student experience are going to stay with you?: The two hikes I’ve been on since I entered school. I also had a great time studying Japanese history at Mt. Koya.
Q What kind of goals or dreams do you have for the future?: Taking the national exam for nursing care workers and earning my qualification. Then, after learning about nursing care in Japan, I want to work my hardest as a caregiver in Vietnam.
Q Do you have any advice for foreign students who are wondering whether or not to study nursing care in Japan?: Specialist nursing care is a pretty new field for Vietnamese people, and it’s really interesting. Do your best to study Japanese well, in order to enter vocational school here. Then come here to study and let’s both do our best!

Q＆A

Q What is the difference between elder care and nursing?: Nursing is a profession focused on assisting the doctor and giving medical support to the patient.

For elder care, the worker is responsible for providing basic support in daily life activities as well as for planning, implementing and monitoring the patient’s lifestyle to ensure they can live a life of dignity.

Q What’s the difference between a Technical intern trainee VISA and Student VISA?: Those with Technical intern trainee VISAs are mainly responsible for cleaning and physical care. Students who are Certified Care Workers nursing home but also facility management and operation due to the systematic theory and professional knowledge they have acquired at school.

Q As a Certified Care Worker, can a foreigner obtain a working VISA in japan?: Yes, A revision of the Immigration Law of Japan from 2017 guarantees a working VISA for any foreigner who passes the National Exam for Care Worker Certification after graduating from the welfare college in Japan.

CONTACT

Please fill in the required items from the inquiry form below, and contact us.

NameRequired
GenderRequired	Male Female
Birth dateRequired	Year Month Day
NationalityRequired
Email addressRequired	* Please enter in standard half-width characters.
Email address for confirmationRequired	* Please enter in standard half-width characters.
Highest Academic Degree ObtainedRequired
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)Required	N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 No
Other certificates
Do you intend to apply for a scholarship?	Yes No
Remarks