How To Get A Tech Job In Japan Without A Degree: ITPEC Exams

Can you work in Japan without a degree? 

The answer is yes — but only if you fulfill certain conditions.  And usually, the biggest hurdle for people without a university is getting a work visa.

The most common work visa in Japan is the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. It covers a variety of jobs, such as software engineering, English teaching, translation, marketing and more.

So yes, it’s possible to work in Japan without a university degree, but it requires careful planning. As such, let’s break down how to get a job in Japan without a degree.

Do you need a degree for a work visa in Japan?

To get a work visa in Japan, the first thing you’ll need is a company that wants to hire you (and is willing to sponsor your visa).

But unfortunately, that’s not enough to be eligible for a visa.  You also need to prove your value to Japan, and you can do this in one of a few ways.

One way is to have at least a university degree to work in Japan. This is one of the fastest ways to prove your value and work in Japan after your studies. 

However, if you don’t have a degree, you can show 10+ years of work experience related to the job you are applying for in Japan instead. This will also make you eligible to work in Japan. 

If you don’t have a degree or 10 years of relevant experience, there’s one more option you can use to show your skills and get a visa as an engineer in Japan. You can pass a specific approved IT exam. 

More of that is explained in the next section. 

ITPEC exams—the alternative way to work in Japan without a degree

For those in IT and engineering, you can take one of several specific exams to work in Japan without a degree.  The full list of supported exams is available here from the Japanese government, but it’s in Japanese.  The most popular exams to use in order to fulfill a Japanese visa requirement appear to be the ITPEC “FE” and “AP” exams.

The ITPEC (Information Technology Professionals Examination Council) exams are held twice a year—one in April and one in October. These exams are a way to promote cross-border job opportunities in Asia, and it tests various software engineering-related topics and business development.

Several Asian countries have these exams, but only 6 of them have these exams in English. They are:

• The Philippines

• Thailand

• Vietnam

• Myanmar

• Mongolia

• Bangladesh

Of these, it appears that The Philippines (via PhilNITS) is a relatively popular choice. You can take certain ITPEC exams to replace Japan’s educational background (or 10 years of work experience) requirement.

1. ITPEC IP exam

The ITPEC IP (Information Technology Passport Examination) is the easiest of the three tests, but it reportedly does not fulfill Japan’s requirement to replace a university degree for visa purposes.

For this test, you will need to know:

• Basic information security and network knowledge

• Able to strategize business affairs

• Analysis problem solving 

• Office tools proficiency 

2. ITPEC FE exam

The ITPEC FE (Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination) exam tests your knowledge and skills about algorithms, networks, databases, information security, practical programming, and more.  This exam is harder than the IP exam, but still easier than the AP exam — it’s likely the best choice for those who want to use the exam as a way to get a Japanese visa.

Specifically, this test is for IT engineers or for those who want to become one.  The ITPEC website shares a lot more information and even has practice exams you can use to check your knowledge.

As such, you need to demonstrate:

• System architecture design knowledge

• Software programming and development knowledge

• System operation and management knowledge

• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and plan

3. ITPEC AP exam

The ITPEC AP (Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination) exam tests your knowledge as an IT engineer and team leader.

The AP exam is similar to the FE exam, but it emphasizes leadership and management skills. So you will combine your IT skills with your management and leadership skills to pass.

This exam is specifically for any IT engineers who want to be leaders. As such, you will need to demonstrate knowledge in:

• System design, development, operation, and management knowledge

• Ability to analyze, evaluate, and plan business strategies

• Experiences in scoping, budgeting, processing, and managing projects

• Ability to apply project management, architectural design, and information security skills

How to apply for the ITPEC exams

You will need to be in one of the six countries to take the ITPEC exams in English. Japan also offers a version of the “FE” exam, but it’s in Japanese. You can apply for the ITPEC exams on their specific websites:

• Philippine National IT Standards Foundation Inc. (PhilNITS)

• Thailand Career for the Future Academy

• Vietnam Hi-tech Incubation and Training Center (HITC)

• Myanmar Computer Federation (MCF)

• Mongolia National IT Park (NITP)

• Bangladesh IT Engineers Examination Center (BD-ITEC)

Be sure to apply before the April and October test dates.  Please note that different countries may have different limitations around who can take the exam.  You will want to double-check that you’re eligible for the specific exam and country you want to take.

How to prepare for the ITPEC exams

The ITPEC website has plenty of information and resources to help you prepare for your exams. For example, they have past ITPEC IP and ITPEC FE questions and answers for you to study from. 

There are preparation books that you can use to help you prepare. But you can contact each country-specific ITPEC exam for more details.

Can I work in Japan with ITPEC?

Once you have an ITPEC certificate (FE or AP), you can use that on your visa application, waiving the need for a university degree or 10 years of experience. 

You may have to clearly state on your resume and cover letter that you have the ITPEC certificate.

Also, please note that not all companies are aware of the ITPEC exam.  When searching for a company to sponsor you, you might need to educate them about the exam and convince them that it’s worth attempting to sponsor you without a degree (or 10 years of experience).  

Even if Japanese immigration is OK with you using these exams in lieu of a degree, the company still needs to sponsor you.

Also, passing one of these exams doesn’t guarantee you’ll find a job in the first place — you still need to go through the job application process.

FAQ: Working in Japan Without a Degree

Let’s summarize some points related to getting a job in Japan without a university degree.  You can check out our overall FAQ on moving to Japan as a Software Engineer for a complete guide, but we’ll cover a few points here for those looking for a job with no degree.

1. Can foreigners work in Japan without a degree?

Yes, it is possible to work in Japan without a degree. One common way is to have 10 years of related work experience.  You can use this experience in place of the educational requirement.

Another method is to take the ITPEC exams if you are planning to be an engineer in Japan. Afterward, you can use the ITPEC certificate to find software engineering and tech jobs in Japan.

2. Do Japanese tech companies hire foreigners?

Many Japanese and foreign tech companies in Japan hire foreigners. In particular, Silicon Valley-style startups and globally minded companies such as Rakuten and Mercari actively recruit international talent.

To find tech companies that are hiring, check out the Japan Dev job board. We list open positions at companies that welcome international talent, offer visa sponsorship, and often have English-friendly workplaces.

Some of these companies' hiring processes are a lot more strict as many prefer those with strong programming skills. That said, there are many internationally-friendly companies in Japan that operate in English and focus on hiring foreign engineers.

3. Can I get a job in Japan if I only speak English?

Yes, it’s possible to get a tech job in Japan if you only speak English, but that will depend on the company and the role.

Some companies operate in English, especially larger and international ones in Japan. Additionally, positions in software development, DevOps, data science, and cybersecurity often have fewer language requirements compared to business-related roles.

However, knowing basic Japanese to work in Japan will better position you in the job hiring process.  Check out this answer from our full FAQ for more details.

4. Which ITPEC exams can be used in place of a degree for Japanese visas?

As we discussed above, there are three main “ITPEC” exams:

1. ITPEC IP exam

2. ITPEC FE exam

3. ITPEC AP exam

Of these three, only the FE and AP exams can be used (the IP exam cannot).  But please check the full list from the Japanese government here to get the latest information.

The FE exam is the easier of the two, and it can be taken in Japan (in Japanese), the Philippines or in several other countries (in English, as noted above).

Conclusion

While having a university degree is likely the most common way to obtain a work visa in Japan, it is not the only way.

With 10 years of work experience or an ITPEC FE or AP exam certificate, skilled IT professionals can waive that requirement and qualify for jobs in Japan’s tech industry.