For Foreign Physical Therapist

In order for foreign physical therapists to work in Japan, they must take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination. With respect to the approval of qualifications required for taking the examination, please see and carry out the procedures below.

Disclaimer

"Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare" in the Japanese government is responsible for the national licensure of physical therapists and the National Physical Therapy Examination in Japan. Please refer to the Japanese version and contact Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare if you have any questions.

【External Link】
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000107687.html

Certification and Qualifications for the National Examination for Physical Therapists

Those who have graduated from a physical therapist (or occupational therapist) training school or program in a foreign country, or have received an equivalent to a physical therapist (or occupational therapist) license, must take a national examination in Japan. Authorization by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is required, based on the provisions of the Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists Act (Act No. 137 of 1965; Article 11 No. 3 and Article 12 No. 3), in order to take the exam. Qualification for and procedure of the examination are as follows:

※ The following is directly from "About the handling of the examination qualification, such as doctor national examination" (notice from March 24, 2005, medical affairs administration 0324007; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare medical administration chief notice).

1. Eligible Applicant

Those who have graduated from a foreign physical therapist (or occupational therapist) training facility or received a license abroad, equivalent to that of a physical therapist (or occupational therapist), can apply to the screening procedure.

2. Screening procedure

Based on the application documents, and the following accreditation criteria, the applicant will be reviewed to determine whether the applicant is at par with those who graduated from a Japanese physical therapist (occupational therapist) training school or program, or more highly qualified.

3. Certification criteria

A physical therapist (or occupational therapist) national examination qualification is granted to those who meet the qualification criteria, listed from (1) to (5) below:

4. Application documents

Submit the following application documents to the Examination License Room, Medical Professions Division, Health Policy Bureau, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: (Note: The application period closes each year at the end of August.)

• 1. Physical Therapist (Occupational Therapist) National Examination Qualification Request [ Form Example 1]
• 2. Resume [Form Example 2 ( WORD) ( PDF); description example] (For educational background from schools equivalent to Japanese elementary schools: Please enter the enrollment and graduation years for each school, and describe, in detail, your work history.)
• 3. Any one of the following, (a) through (d):
  (a) A resident card (containing the permanent address (for foreign nationals, include nationality as well); the individual number should be omitted)
  (b) A copy of the residence card (showing the original at the time of application, a certificate of registration, deemed as a residence card by transitional measures of the law (Law No. 79 of 2009) for those who have left Japanese Nationality is included under the Special Act on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Ordinance No. 54 of 1981), and the Treaty of Peace with Japan)
  (c) Extract of family registry or copy of family registry (limited to those with Japanese nationality)
  (d) Copy of passport (limited to foreign nationals; present the original at the time of application)
• 4. Doctor's medical certificate [ Form Example 3] (limited to what was issued within one month before application; applies only to those with a Japanese doctor qualification)
• 5. Copy of physical therapist (occupational therapist) license, obtained in foreign country
• 6. Copy of diploma from the graduated foreign physical therapist (occupational therapist) training school or program, or a graduation certificate
• 7. Documents that clarify the curriculum and number of hours taken at the graduated foreign physical therapist (occupational therapist) training school or program
• 8. Copy of Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1 certification and transcript of results, or certificate regarding the result of Japanese Language Proficiency test N1 and grade (for those who have not graduated from Japanese junior high school and high school)
• 9. Other documents of (1) through (8); may be required with submission, as necessary:
  (a) Copy of certificate of qualification test in foreign country or passing certificate
  (b) Excerpt of laws and regulations related to acquired physical therapists (occupational therapists) license
  (c) A pamphlet, and other documents, clarifying the summary of the graduated foreign physical therapist (occupational therapist) training school or program

※ Notes on preparation
1. Only one copy of all documents is necessary.
2. Attach Japanese translation for all documents, attached in foreign language, except for (9) (c).
3. Concerning (5) through (7), if obtained from a public institution (embassies, consulates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc. of the country of record), we must receive confirmation that the descriptions of both submitted documents, and their Japanese translations, are true. Note: Submit the proof with the other documentation, mentioned in (5) through (7) above. (Caution) Please note that references to embassy or consulate in the relevant country are not Japanese embassies or consulates located in foreign countries.
4. For (5) through (8), bring all original documents. (Originals will be returned after verification.)
5. Applicants must apply for accreditation, and we will not accept applications by mail or proxy.