Applying for work as nurses or caregivers in Japan

This guide clarifies some questions to help those who want to work in Japan as nurses or caregivers. At the moment, the country is not accepting Filipino applicants as the proposed Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is still awaiting ratification by the Philippine Senate. Shinji Yamada (Japanese), the author of this guide, is a volunteer worker at the Center for Migrant Advocacy. He is a graduating masters’ degree student at the University of the Philippines College of Social Work. Q & A for Filipinos wishing to work as nurses or caregivers in Japan 1. How can I apply for a job as a nurse/caregiver in Japan? Because the Philippine Senate has not yet ratified the proposed JPEPA, Filipino nurses and caregivers cannot apply for jobs in Japan yet. Under the proposed JPEPA, Japan does not allow recruitment agencies to send Filipino nurses or caregivers to the country. However, it allows recruiters to do so for “entertainer visa." If you intend to apply for a nursing job after the ratification of JPEPA, you could directly go to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) - not to any recruitment agency. If you want to apply for a care-giving job, go to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) - not to any recruitment agency. 2. What are the requirements for the application? A. For nurses A nursing license in the Philippines and the applicant must have 3-year work experience as a nurse. B. For caregivers There are two ways to become a caregiver in Japan: 1. By undergoing OJT course The applicant must have: * A 4-year college degree in any major and a certificate of care-giving training in any TESDA-authorized training center in the Philippines, or * A nursing college degree (you don't have to be a registered nurse or RN). *OJT course will be for 3 years. After the training, you can take the board exam in Japanese (only once). 2. By studying in care-giving school * The applicant must have a 4-year college degree course. * At the shortest, the care-giving course could take two years. If a student failed in the board exam, he/she can still work as a "licensed practical caregiver." * Tuition: $14,521 for the two year program at Hokkaido Care-giving and Welfare School. 3. How much is the salary of nurses and caregivers? The average starting salary for nurses is $1,987 (gross) = P81,500; for caregivers is $1,525 (gross) = P62,500. Because foreign nurses are treated as trainees, it is highly possible that their starting salary would be equal to the pay rate of a Japanese nursing aid, which is $1,364 (P 55,900) per month - even less for Filipino caregivers. Cost of living The average cost of living in Japan is $851 (P34, 900) per month; $1,000 (P41,000) in Tokyo . 4. Is Nihongo a requirement? It is not a requirement for application, but a foreign worker needs to learn the language. Whether you intend to work as a nurse or a caregiver in Japan, you have to read, write and speak Nihongo (Japanese) because Filipino nurses/caregivers are required to pass the board exams that use the language. According to the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, which conducts the test, a foreigner needs to memorize 600 Kanji (Chinese characters) and 1000 words, and that a student needs to spend around 600 hours of study to pass the Text level-2. 5. What if I fail the board exam? Filipino nurses can take the board exam up to three times during their 3-year stay in the country. The nursing board exam is held every February. Filipino caregivers can take the board exam in Japan only once during their 4-year stay in Japan. If you fail to pass the board within the period of stay specified in your visa, you should leave Japan. However, you can still visit Japan, say, on a tourist visa, to take the board exam again, this time, at your own expense. Source: http://japan.pinoy-abroad.net/faq/requirements.htm