Japan revises licensing test for nurses

Japan is making it easier for foreign nurses and caregivers to pass the licensure examinations, according to the Japanese embassy in Manila.

For one, technical terms used in the test will have both Niponggo and English translations.

A Japanese embassy officer said the introduction of these improvements were intended to “make it [the tests] more passable for foreign applicants. For example, the words diabetes, cataract, or pulmonary tuberculosis will be written in Japanese and English.

An economic agreement between Manila and Tokyo provides for the hiring of Filipino caregivers to Japan but the locals are hamstrung by the technical terms, sources said.

The issue will be taken up during the general review of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement sometime this year. “There would be no limitations on the [number of topics] to be discussed in the general review of JPEPA this year,” the official said, adding that there was no fixed scheduled set for the review.

JPEPA came into force in December 2008. Under the agreement, Filipino applicants should undergo six months of Japanese language training before they can work in a hospital (for nurses) and caregiving facilities (for caregivers). Every year, nurses and caregivers can take the licensure tests. If a nurse flunked the tests, he or she would not be qualified and his/her maximum period of stay would be three years, and four years for caregivers.

But a successful nurse and caregiver examinees could continue working in Japan and their stay could be extended without limitation. –Julito Rada, Manila Standard Today