• Information site for foreigners who want to obtain a medical license in Japan
The process of obtaining the national medical license.
The process of obtaining the national medical license

As a result of documents review, it is divided into two cases: 1) when eligibility for the national medical examination is certified, and 2) when eligibility for the preliminary national medical examination is certified.

① If the eligibility requirements are met ② If the eligibility requirements are not met.
１ Send documents to the Examination and License Division of the Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Application for documents review (application deadline: end of March or end of July).Please refer to the 【Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare】 for more information about the application documents.
2 Japanese Medical Examination Ability Survey(September or October) 2 Certification of the Preliminary
Medical Licensing Examination
3 Certification of the National Medical Licensing Examination 3 Preliminary Medical Licensing Examination（June to November）
【2024 Preliminary Medical Licensing Examination】
4 National Medical Licensing Exam (February)【2025 Medical Licensing Exam】 4 Clinical training (More than 1 year）
5 National Medical Licensing Exam (February)

Points to consider for obtaining the national medical qualification

Notes on Preparing Application Documents Japanese Medical Examination Ability Survey Preliminary Medical Licensing Examination Residency Program Matching
Except for the medical school brochure, a Japanese translation is attached. Able to correctly understand the content of what the　patient and healthcare professionals are saying. The first part of the preliminary examination will be conducted in an absolute evaluation format. Apply for a visit to the desired clinical training hospital and participate in tours and information sessions.
Submit a certificate stating that the information in the document is true. Able to accurately explain the medical content and gain understanding. When sending preliminary examination documents, use registered mail. If you visit the hospital more than once, you can take the recruitment exam.
Please bring the original copies of the medical license, graduation certificate, and N1 certification results. Able to properly create basic medical records in Japanese. The examination fee will not be refunded after the acceptance of the preliminary examination documents. After the exams at the desired hospitals, determine the order of preference for each hospital.
Submission of an application by a representative is not allowed. Able to correctly understand and read aloud medical terminology in Japanese. The estimated duration for practical training is more than 12 months. Changes to the desired ranking can be made until the final deadline for registering desired rankings before the interim announcement.

Contact information

Procedures for certification of eligibility to take the national medical examination. Procedures and contact information regarding the national medical examination.
"Procedures and Contact Information for Medical National Examination Qualification Certification"
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Medical Affairs Bureau, Examination and License Division 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916 Tel. 03-5253-1111 (main)		 "Procedures and Contact Information for the National Medical Examination"
National Medical Examination Management Headquarters Office 3-6-11 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063, TFT Building East Wing 7th Floor Tel. 03-5579-6903