Everything you need to know about qualifications, exams, training, employment, salaries, and building a successful electrical career in Japan.
A Career with Long-Term Opportunities
Japan’s electrical industry continues to require skilled workers across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. With an aging workforce and ongoing development projects, qualified electricians remain in high demand throughout the country.
For foreigners, understanding the qualifications, training pathways, examinations, and employment expectations can seem overwhelming. Japan Electrician Guide was created to simplify that process and provide practical guidance based on real industry experience.
Whether you are completely new to the trade or already have electrical experience from another country, this guide will help you understand the path towards becoming an electrician in Japan.
⚡ Second Class Electrician (第二種電気工事士)
The most common entry-level electrical qualification in Japan. This licence allows electricians to carry out most residential electrical work and is the qualification that most people start with. This qualification enables you to work on electronic circuits up to 600V (AC) and 750V (DC) for residential and small business setups such as businesses, offices and such.
The Second Class Electrician qualification is the starting point for most electricians in Japan and is often considered the minimum requirement for performing residential electrical work.
The examination consists of a written test and a practical skills examination. Candidates are expected to understand electrical theory, safety regulations, wiring diagrams, and Japanese electrical symbols.
⚡ First Class Electrician (第一種電気工事士)
A more advanced qualification allowing work on larger commercial and industrial electrical installations.
The First Class Electrician qualification allows electricians to work on larger and more complex electrical systems than those covered by the Second Class licence.
This qualification is commonly pursued after gaining practical field experience and is highly respected throughout the industry. Typically to attain the licence you need 3 years experience to officially gain the class 1 licence.
⚡ Commercial Buildings
⚡ Industrial Facilities
⚡ Three-Phase Systems
⚡ Advanced Installations
⚡ Power Distribution
⚡ Larger Electrical Loads
⚡ Additional Certifications
Many employers value additional construction and safety qualifications that increase your usefulness on site as well as salary for being more useful to your company.
Explore QualificationsWhat Foreigners Should Know
🗣 Language Skills
Electrical work in Japan is conducted in Japanese. Technical drawings, regulations, site instructions, and examinations are all written in Japanese.
Improving your technical Japanese will dramatically improve your career opportunities. You do not need to be completely fluent in Japanese, but knowing the right vocabulary will help greatly.
Certifications
Japan is very certificate focused. Having experience doesn’t mean a great deal if you have no papers to prove it. Taking official exams and licencing courses will greatly improve your resume to ensure employers take notice of your skills as being valuable to them.