Japan extends nurse, care worker applications to April 24

The Embassy of Japan has announced the extension of the application period for aspiring nurses and care workers under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) until April 24.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS) said they are seeking 50 nurses (kangoshi) and 300 care workers (kaigofukushishi) bound for Japan.

The following qualifications are required:

• Nurses: Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate with an active Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license and at least three years of work experience in a hospital, clinic, or health center.
• Care workers: Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate or any four-year course graduate with a TESDA National Certificate II (NC II) in caregiving.

Accepted candidates will undergo six months of Japanese language training in the Philippines and another six months in Japan. They are expected to reach Japanese-language proficiency equivalent to N4 upon completion of the program.

Applicants with N3 or N4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certification obtained after April 2024 will be exempted from language training in the Philippines.

Those with JLPT N2 certification or at least 12 months of study in an accredited Japanese language institution may also be exempted from language training in both the Philippines and Japan.

A daily living allowance will be provided throughout the duration of the language training.

According to the DMW advisory, interested applicants may secure an appointment at any DMW office via its online registration portal and submit the following documents on their scheduled date:

• Detailed résumé with a recent 2x2 photo
• Photocopy of transcript of records
• Photocopy of college diploma
• Photocopy of PRC license (for nurse applicants)
• Photocopy of certificate of employment (for nurse applicants; optional for care workers, if applicable)
• Photocopy of Japanese language training certificate (if available)
• Photocopy of TESDA NC II caregiving certificate (for care worker applicants who did not graduate in nursing)
• Photocopy of passport valid for at least six months from departure
• Photocopy of valid NBI clearance
• PEOS certificate (http://peos.dmw.gov.ph)
• Printed Workers Information Sheet/E-Registration (http://onlineservices.dmw.gov.ph/OnlineServices/POEAOnline.aspx)

—MCG, GMA News