Describes the job and annual income of a "nurse." Recommended for foreigners
Many foreigners who come to Japan for travel or business, or who are staying in Japan, may feel anxious about medical care in Japan where they do not speak the language.
When you are injured or become ill, it is very reassuring if there is a foreign nurse at the hospital who can understand your language, and you can focus on your treatment with peace of mind.
In this article, we will explain how a foreigner can become a nurse in Japan, the annual salary, and the types of nursing positions available.
Types of Nursing Positions in Japan
There are four types of nursing positions in Japan: nurses, public health nurses, midwives, and assistant nurses.
RN
Nurses take care of patients' medical care and assist in medical treatment.
To become a nurse, one must have a national nursing license.
public health nurse
Public health nurses provide health guidance and other services to help people lead healthy lives.
To become a public health nurse, one must obtain a national nursing license and a national public health nurse license.
midwife
Midwives assist in childbirth and provide guidance and care to the mother and child before and after childbirth.
To become a midwife, one must obtain a national nursing license and a national midwifery license.
practical nurse
Assistant nurses provide medical care and assistance to patients under the direction of physicians and nurses.
To become a licensed practical nurse, one must pass a prefectural examination.
Required Qualifications for Nurses
To work as a nurse in Japan, you must have a "nursing license".
Nursing certification is a national qualification, and students are qualified to take the exam by completing the curriculum at a government-recognized nursing school or nursing training school.
The pass rate for the nursing exam is around 95%.
Although the passing rate is very high, making the exam appear to be a low hurdle, the study and training required to qualify for the exam can be very demanding.
In order for foreigners to work as nurses in Japan, they need to improve their Japanese language skills in addition to preparing for the nursing exam.
Salaries of Japanese Nurses
Nursing is a popular profession in Japan because of its high and stable income.
The average annual salary for nurses in 2020 was approximately 4.92 million yen. The average monthly income is about 340,000 yen and the average bonus is about 860,000 yen.
Salaries for newly qualified nurses in Japan will be lower than this amount, as salaries for nurses in Japan vary greatly depending on region, experience, and skills.
Salaries also vary greatly depending on the size of the hospital, so if you want to work at a place that pays a little more, you should work at a large general hospital rather than a private hospital.
How to work as a nurse in Japan
In principle, a "National Nursing License" is required to work as a nurse in Japan.
There are three ways for a foreigner to become a nurse in Japan.
- Become a nurse the same way as the Japanese.
- A person who has obtained a nursing license in a foreign country comes to Japan and becomes a nurse.
- Come to Japan as an EPA foreign nursing candidate and become a nurse
1. Become a nurse the same way as the Japanese.
The first way for a foreigner to become a nurse in Japan is the same as for a Japanese national.
After graduating from a government-recognized nursing school or nursing training school, students must pass a national examination to obtain a nursing license to become a nurse.
Since there is no program for foreigners in this method, you must enroll in and graduate from a high school, which is a requirement for admission to a nursing training school, just like a Japanese person living in Japan. Also, considerable Japanese language ability is required.
2. A person who has obtained a nursing license in a foreign country comes to Japan and becomes a nurse.
Those who have already obtained a nursing license in a foreign country may work as a nurse in Japan after receiving certification of eligibility to take the examination in Japan and passing the Japanese National Nursing Examination.
For details on eligibility certification, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website.
Reference: Approval of eligibility to sit for the National Nursing Examinationhttps://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000112866.html
3. Come to Japan as an EPA foreign nursing candidate and become a nurse
Under the Economic Partnership Agreement, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam can come to Japan as EPA foreign nursing candidates to train and work in nursing, while aiming to pass the Japanese nursing exam.
Although it is a prerequisite that the applicant has a nursing license in his/her home country, there is no detailed certification of eligibility for the examination as in 2.
How to Find a Nursing Job in Japan
Once you have obtained your nursing license, the next step is to find a place to work.
To find a job, do your job search online or at your local employment security office (Hello Work).
If you search the Internet for "nursing jobs," you will find numerous job postings.
In addition, at the nearest employment security office, you can search for a workplace at a terminal with job postings or consult directly with a support staff member.
Nursing is also an occupation that is currently in very high demand, so don't struggle to find a job.
Nursing assistants can work without qualifications.
Nursing assistants do not need to be licensed nurses to work as healthcare professionals.
The main job is to take care of the patients' personal needs.
Specifically, they do not perform medical procedures such as assisting in medical treatment, but prepare and clean up medical equipment and serve meals.
The average annual salary for nursing assistants in 2020 was approximately 3.08 million yen. The average monthly income is about 220,000 yen and the average bonus is about 440,000 yen.
If a person other than a permanent resident, spouse or child of Japanese national, spouse or child of permanent resident, or permanent resident becomes a nursing assistant, his/her status of residence will be "nursing care", which is a specified technical skill.
In order to obtain a work visa, a specified skilled nursing care visa, the applicant must have language skills of at least JLPT N4, and must pass the Japanese Language Proficiency Test for Specified Skills in Nursing Care and the Japanese Language Test for Nursing Care.
Once you obtain a Specified Skilled Nursing Visa, you will be able to work as a nursing assistant or a caregiver, and it is not a dream to gain work experience and qualify to take the national exam to become a "caregiver welfare officer".
For more information about the Specified Skilled Nursing Visa ▼
summary
In this article, we discussed the different types of nursing jobs, how to become a nurse, and the annual salary.
Since it can be a difficult and arduous path for a foreigner with no nursing experience to become a nurse, it is a good idea to look for a nursing assistant position that does not require certification.
If you have already obtained a nursing license in your home country or other countries, it is not a dream to work in Japan as a nurse.
In addition to medical skills, you may want to improve your language skills, communication skills, and knowledge of Japanese culture in order to be a successful medical professional in Japan.
