This page summarizes information about the shipbuilding and ship machinery industry skills exam.For more details, please refer to the official page.
※This page summarizes information from the link above.
The test date and place are not fixed in advance. They are arranged based on the application. Test supervisors are sent to the place requested by the applicant.
Applications for 2026 Specified Skilled Worker exams have closed. The reopening of applications for 2027 will be announced on the ClassNK official page.
If applying at a new place, you are advised to contact the organization before applying because the facilities and test materials must be checked.
You can check the test guide, test application form, practical test implementation guidelines, and written test samples for each category below.
The test fee differs by category. After the application is accepted, an invoice for the test fee, travel expenses, and other costs will be sent.
Example: Welding costs 23,800 yen before tax for the written exam and practical exam, and machining costs 23,100 yen before tax.
Some categories have a minimum fee for one test session. Check the test guide for each category for details.
ClassNK publishes yearly and monthly result lists on its official page.
After applications for 2026 close, check the latest pass-announcement status on the official top page news or in monthly reports.
Written Exam
| Number of Questions |
30Questions |
| Language | Japanese (with furigana for kanji) |
| Category |
⚫︎ Welding General safety and health (10 questions), welding knowledge and skills (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) ⚫︎ Painting General safety and health (10 questions), painting knowledge and skills (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) ⚫︎ Ironwork General safety and health (10 questions), ironwork knowledge and skills (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) ⚫︎ Finishing General safety and health (10 questions), finishing knowledge and skills (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) ⚫︎ Machining General safety and health (10 questions), machining knowledge and skills (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) ⚫︎ Electrical Equipment Assembly Knowledge and skills on electrical equipment assembly (10 written questions, 10 diagram questions) |
| Format | True/False Selection Method (○×) |
| Time | 60Minutes |
| Passing Criteria | 60% |
| Test Method | Mark Sheet Method |
| Eligibility | You must be 17 or older on the test day. If taking the test in Japan, you also need some type of residence status. |
Practical Exam
| Category |
⚫︎ Welding Perform one-sided butt welding on sheet metal using a separately specified method. ⚫︎ Painting Use the provided materials (L-shaped metal sheet) to prepare the surface, mask, and paint specified areas. ⚫︎ Ironwork Use the provided materials to create a product as directed by the production drawing, including marking, gas cutting, tack welding, and bending. ⚫︎ Finishing Use the provided materials to create a part as directed by the machining drawing, including surface roughness adjustment, fitting adjustment, and chamfering. ⚫︎ Machining Use the provided materials to create a part as directed by the machining drawing. ⚫︎ Electrical Equipment Assembly Use the provided materials to create a control panel for a three-phase induction motor based on connection, arrangement, and route diagrams. |
| Time | 60Minutes |
| Passing Criteria |
⚫︎ Welding In the visual inspection and bend test, there must be no harmful defects such as cracks, lack of fusion, or incomplete penetration. ⚫︎ Painting Masking, film thickness, uneven coating, appearance defects, etc. are used as judgment criteria. ⚫︎ Ironwork Dimensions, tolerances, leaning, bent plate position, gas-cut surfaces, tack welding positions, etc. are used as judgment criteria. ⚫︎ Finishing Surface roughness, sliding, gaps, chamfering, etc. are used as judgment criteria. ⚫︎ Machining Dimensional tolerance, groove machining dimensions, C1 chamfering, thread chamfering, etc. are used as judgment criteria. ⚫︎ Electrical Equipment Assembly Main circuit continuity, insulation condition, indicator lamp lighting status, etc. are used as judgment criteria. |
| Test Method | Conducted On-site |
| Detailed Information |