# Promotion of National Trade Skill Testing and Certification

Name of system	National Trade Skills Testing system	In-house trade skills test
Outline	The government tests workers' skills based on standards and officially certifies them.	The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare authorizes in-house trade skills tests which are regarded necessary to promote skills development.
Skills and occupations, etc. covered	Common trade skills widely used in enterprises across the country, and occupations in which a large number of workers are engaged. As of January 31, 2013, skill tests are conducted for 128 occupations including machining and building carpentry by grade, namely Special Grade, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 (for some skills, there is single grade).	Particular trade skills used in-house are subjected. As of January 31, 2013, 122 occupations (42 enterprises, etc.) including food processing and automobile pats management, etc. are authorized.
Type of certification	A person who passed the test is given a certificate either in the name of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (for Special Grade, Grade 1, and single grade) or the prefectural governors or the head of designated test organization (for Grades 2 and 3), and is given a title "Certified Skilled Worker".	Authorized in-house trade skills tests can be labeled as "authorized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare".
Eligible applicants	Persons who have practical experiences in principle.	Workers employed by enterprises conducting authorized in-house trade skills tests

Grade	Outline of skills test
Special Grade	The level of skills that managers or supervisors of each tested occupation must have, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Grade 1	The level of skills that advanced skilled workers of each tested occupation must have, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Grade 2	The level of skills that intermediate-level skilled workers of each tested occupation must have, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Grade 3	The level of skills that elementary-level skilled workers of each tested occupation must have, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Basic Grade 1	The skills required to carry out basic works of the tested occupation, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Basic Grade 2	The essential skills required to carry out basic works of the tested occupation, and the level of knowledge related to the skills
Single Grade	The level of skills that advanced skilled workers of each tested occupation must have, and the level of knowledge related to the skills

Special Grade	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Basic Grade 1	Basic Grade 2	Single Grade	Total
Number of applicants (persons)	4,121	83,321	355,547	295,856	183	35,397	7,114	781,539
72,933	2,953,211	6,219,942	1,714,734	3,020	416,250	280,635	11,660,725
Number of persons passed (persons)	762	32,416	96,861	147,829	174	33,439	3,698	315,179
20,612	1,263,241	2,279,583	785,920	2,786	394,323	158,377	4,904,842
Percentage of persons passed the tests (%)	18.5	38.9	27.2	50.0	95.1	94.5	52.0	40.3
28.3	42.8	36.6	45.8	92.3	94.7	56.4	42.1

Source: Human Resources Development Bureau, MHLW

Upper figures: FY2011, lower figures: cumulative total (FY1959-2011)