A comprehensive guide for construction company owners to transition employees from Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Level 1 to Level 2. Covers CCUS Level 3 requirements, cost estimates (120,000–250,000 yen), annual savings of 360,000 yen, and the impact of the 2027 'Training and Employment System,' explained from a 20-year veteran CEO's perspective.
建設業界で20年の現場経験を持ち、数多くの外国人技能実習生の指導にあたってきた。現在はUKARU代表として、建設分野の特定技能試験対策をDXし、外国人が日本で長く活躍できる環境づくりに注力している。
著者について詳しく→The 3-Line Summary
- Transitioning an employee from SSW1 to SSW2 is a high-ROI investment: an initial investment of 120,000–250,000 yen can save 360,000 yen annually in Registered Support Agency fees.
- Passing the exam is not enough; CCUS (Construction Career Up System) Level 3 certification is a mandatory prerequisite. This should be addressed before exam preparation.
- Moving to Level 2 before the 2027 Training and Employment System takes effect is the most strategic move to prevent job-hopping and secure top talent.
"I want to upgrade my employees to Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Level 2, but where do I start?" "How much does it cost?" "Will I really see a return on investment?"
As a business owner with 20 years of experience in the construction industry, I have written this guide to help you understand the entire process of transitioning your SSW Level 1 employees to Level 2 from a business decision perspective. We will keep the talk about exam study to a minimum and focus on costs, schedules, regulations, and risks.
The numbers make it clear.
| Item | Amount | |---|---| | Initial Investment (per employee) | 120,000 – 250,000 yen | | Annual Savings (Registered Support Agency fees) | Approx. 360,000 yen/person | | Payback Period | Approx. 8 – 10 months | | Cumulative Return over 10 years | Over 3.5 million yen/person |
In addition, the ability to bring family members to Japan drastically changes employee loyalty. Once a worker realizes, "I can live in Japan with my family at this company," they are highly unlikely to transfer to another employer. In an era where job transfers will become easier under the new "Training and Employment System" (Ikusei-Shuro, effective April 2027), this is your most effective talent defense strategy.
Acquiring SSW2 is not a question of "if," but "when, for whom, and in what order." If you have multiple employees on SSW1, you should start with your potential foremen. Since SSW1 is limited to a total of 5 years, inaction means losing your best talent.
Many owners misunderstand this. They often think, "If they pass the exam, they become Level 2." In reality, passing the exam is only the last of three major gates.
| Gate | Content | Estimated Time | |---|---|---| | 1. Practical Experience as a Foreman | Period spent supervising workers and managing site schedules | 0.5 – 3 years (depends on trade) | | 2. CCUS Level 3 Certification | Obtaining Level 3 in the Construction Career Up System (CCUS) evaluation | 3 – 6 months | | 3. JAC Evaluation Exam Pass | Academic (40 questions/75%+) + Practical (25 questions/75%+) | 2 – 3 months of prep needed |
Business owners often think in the order of "Study → Exam → Pass," but the real bottleneck is obtaining CCUS Level 3.
This process takes at least 3 months, or 6 months if you haven't started. Since exam prep should follow this, it is realistic to expect 6 to 8 months from start to SSW2 acquisition.
There are two ways to prove practical experience:
The CCUS route passes through Immigration Bureau screenings much more smoothly.
Business registration for CCUS costs approx. 24,000 yen (valid for 5 years) depending on capital, and technician registration is 4,900 yen per person. Starting April 2026, the 3,000 yen level assessment fee is fully subsidized, so now is the perfect time to act.
Here are the estimated total costs to transition one employee to Level 2, comparing "Outsourcing to an Administrative Scrivener" vs. "Doing it In-House."
| Item | Amount | Who Pays | Timing | |---|---|---|---| | CCUS Business Registration (Cap. 5-10m yen) | Approx. 24,000 yen | Company | Start (Every 5 years) | | CCUS Technician Registration (Detailed) | 4,900 yen/person | Company or Employee | Once | | CCUS Level Assessment Fee | 3,000 yen (Fully subsidized from April 2026) | Company | Upon Level 3 acquisition | | Card Reader Installation (Optional) | From tens of thousands of yen | Company | Once | | JAC Evaluation Exam Fee | 2,000 yen/person | Employee or Company | At time of exam (Cash) | | Certificate of Eligibility Change Fee | 4,000 yen/person | Employee or Company | Immigration Bureau | | Administrative Scrivener (Outsourced) | 80,000 – 200,000 yen | Company | At time of application | | Study Materials (UKARU, etc.) | From several thousand yen/month | Company | 2-3 months before exam | | Total (With Outsourcing) | Approx. 120,000 – 250,000 yen | | | | Total (In-House) | Approx. 40,000 – 100,000 yen | | |
| Item | Amount | |---|---| | No Registered Support Agency fees required | 360,000 yen/year/person | | CCUS Utilization Promotion Subsidy | 160,000 yen/person (Max 1.6m yen) |
→ By investing 120k–250k yen upfront, you recover 360k yen annually, meaning the investment pays for itself in 8–10 months. Over a 10-year employment period, the cumulative return exceeds 3.5 million yen.
According to the official JAC (Japan Association for Construction Skill Training) specifications (Official JAC Exam Info):
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing Score | |---|---|---|---| | Academic Exam | 40 (4-choice CBT) | 60 mins | 75% or higher (30+ correct) | | Practical Exam | 25 (4-choice CBT) | 40 mins | 75% or higher (19+ correct) |
⚠️ Some media articles mention "30 questions / 60% passing score," but this is outdated information. The official JAC requirement is 40 questions and a 75% score.
Examinees choose one of three categories:
| Category | Targeted Work | |---|---| | Civil Engineering | Roads, bridges, tunnels, rivers, paving, scaffolding, etc. | | Building Construction | New construction, extensions, renovations, formwork, rebar, interior, etc. | | Lifelines/Equipment | Electrical, telecommunications, gas, water, HVAC, plumbing, etc. |
Based on JAC official sample questions, the 40 academic questions cover "The minimum knowledge required for a site manager/foreman."
| Subject Area | Examples of Content | |---|---| | Construction System | Prime/subcontractor structure, specialized contractors, ledger | | Schedule Management | Backward scheduling, Gantt charts, network diagrams | | Safety Management | Risk assessment, KY activities (Hazard Prediction), near-misses | | Construction Business Act | Placement requirements for Chief/Managing Engineers | | Industrial Safety and Health Act | Appointment of Safety/Health Managers, Operations Chiefs | | Quality Control | Inspection, corrective actions, PDCA cycle | | Foreman Tasks | Instruction, guidance, schedule coordination, communication |
Despite the name, the practical exam consists of "Case study questions asking for site-based judgment." It is not a test of physical machine operation; rather, it uses a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) format with 4-choice questions.
→ The defining feature is that "site judgment" is tested more than rote memorization.
Pass rates fluctuated significantly between 2024 and 2025 due to changes in the exam format, but historically, it is a very difficult exam. For detailed trends, see our Data Analysis of SSW2 Construction Pass Rates.
| Pattern | Reason for Failure | |---|---| | 1. The Kanji Barrier | Cannot read technical terms (schedule, construction, correction, chief, placement) and runs out of time. | | 2. Stuck in Level 1 Mindset | Level 1 is from a "worker's perspective"; Level 2 is from a "manager's perspective." They fail to switch viewpoints. | | 3. Winging It | Attempting the exam without knowing the specific question patterns of the mock exams. |
UKARU is specifically designed to address all three patterns: furigana for all kanji, over 810 original mock questions from a foreman's perspective, and a full-length 40/25 question exam mode.
The most important instruction you can give as a CEO is to "make sure they choose the category that matches the work they actually do."
If you choose "Building Construction" just because the pass rate looks higher, the Immigration Bureau may reject the residence status change because the exam category does not match the company's business. For details, refer to How to Choose Between the 3 Construction Categories.
The judgment criteria are simple:
If an employee has experience in multiple areas, they should choose the field they have worked in the longest.
Here is a reverse-engineered schedule for transitioning one employee to Level 2.
Month 0 Candidate selection + CCUS Technician registration (if not registered)
Month 1 CCUS Business registration / Site registration (Company side)
Month 2 Accumulation of work history + Preparation for Level Assessment
Month 2-3 Obtain CCUS Level 3 Certification
Month 3-5 Study with UKARU for Academic (40) and Practical (25) exams (2-3 months)
Month 5 Book via "JAC ExamForm" app → Take exam at Prometric center (e.g., Nagoya)
Month 6 Pass → Apply for Change of Residence Status (approx. 1.5 months processing)
Month 7-8 "SSW Level 2" Granted → Terminate Registered Support Agency contract
Registration for the JAC Evaluation Exam must be done by the employee themselves through the "JAC ExamForm" app. Registration is not possible via PC, and companies cannot register for employees in bulk.
You must have your employees download the app in advance and register on the JAC Skills Evaluation Exam My Page.
There are multiple Prometric test centers in major cities like Nagoya, Aichi.
Passing the JAC exam is not enough. You must apply for a Change of Residence Status at the Immigration Bureau.
If an SSW1 visa is about to expire, you can switch the worker to "Designated Activities (6 months, work permitted)" while preparing the SSW2 application. Many owners don't know this, so be sure to check with your administrative scrivener.
This is the regulatory change that will determine management strategy for the next 10 years.
| Item | Current (Technical Intern) | New (Training and Employment, April 2027–) | |---|---|---| | Purpose | Technology Transfer (Nominal) | Training for SSW (Serious) | | Duration | 3 – 5 years | 3 years | | Transfers | Generally not allowed | Allowed after 1 – 2 years | | Japanese Level | None | N5 equivalent → N4 equivalent (at SSW transition) |
Under the old system, the path was "3 years Internship → 5 years SSW1 → SSW2," totaling 13 years of buildup. Under the new system, "3 years Training → 5 years SSW1 → SSW2" allows for maximum productivity in as little as 10 years.
⚠️ If you currently employ SSW1 workers, it is wise to proceed with SSW2 transition before the 2027 amendment.
From FY2025, the target has been expanded to include small and medium-sized construction employers (previously it was only for employer groups).
Requirements:
Amount: 160,000 yen x number of technicians who were promoted and given a 5% raise (up to 1.6 million yen).
→ In other words, if you promote 10 people and give them a 5% raise, you get 1.6 million yen back. This subsidy can be obtained alongside the process of upgrading your foreman candidates to SSW2.
For details, check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: CCUS Utilization Promotion Course Overview (PDF).
| Step | Recommended: In-House | Recommended: Scrivener | |---|---|---| | CCUS Business/Technician Registration | ✅ In-house (Easy) | | | CCUS Level Assessment Application | ✅ In-house | | | Exam Booking/Taking | ✅ Employee | | | Acceptance Plan Certification | △ (External rec. for first time) | ✅ | | Immigration Application Docs | △ (Experienced only) | ✅ Highly recommended | | Handling Immigration Inquiries | | ✅ |
Conclusion: The optimal balance is In-house until the exam, and Administrative Scrivener for Immigration documents. For a cost of 80k–200k yen, you significantly reduce the risk of rejection.
The main causes are incomplete documentation or insufficient foreman experience. In many cases, you can recover by having an administrative scrivener handle the re-application, so don't give up.
Once these are decided, achieving SSW2 in 6-8 months becomes a realistic goal.
UKARU is an exam preparation app specialized for Specified Skilled Worker Level 2 in the Construction Sector.
UKARU handles the exam preparation part of the process; we do not provide CCUS procedures or administrative scrivener services. By clarifying our roles, we maximize the efficiency of the business owner's time.
A. It varies by trade, ranging from 0.5 to 3 years. It is shorter for trades with CCUS competency assessment standards and 3 years or more for those without. For details, refer to the MLIT: Definition of Practical Experience as a Foreman (PDF).
A. You can take the exam, but even if you pass, you won't be able to transition to Level 2 because you cannot prove your "practical experience" for the visa. We strongly recommend the order: CCUS registration → Level 3 certification → Exam study → Exam.
A. It is 2,000 yen per person, paid in cash at the testing site. The low exam fee is a unique feature of the SSW2 evaluation exam.
A. Since it uses the CBT format, you can book and take it as many times as there are openings at Prometric test centers. However, from December 2025, a 30-day interval is required since the last attempt.
A. As of May 2026, there is no Japanese language exam requirement for SSW Level 2. Since N4 level proficiency was proven when obtaining Level 1, no additional Japanese test is mandated for Level 2.
A. Yes. There are Prometric test centers near Nagoya Station and in Fushimi. For details, refer to the Official Prometric Test Center List.
A. From April 2027, job transfers will become easier. If you aren't a "Company of Choice," you will lose talent. Transitioning to Level 2 before the amendment is your best move to avoid this risk.
A. Yes, they will no longer be required. This results in an annual cost saving of 360,000 yen per person, which is the primary source of ROI for acquiring SSW2.
Here are the primary sources of information for your operations. Since data freshness is critical, always verify with official sources.
Acquiring Specified Skilled Worker Level 2 is not just a cost-cutting measure. It is a strategic investment to gain a position as a "Company where you can live with your family in Japan."
With the Training and Employment System starting in April 2027, talent mobility will increase. In that environment, the best workers will stay only with companies that are recognized as places where they can achieve their Level 2 status.
How many employees do you want to upgrade to Level 2, and by when? Once you have a headcount and a timeline, UKARU's B2B plan can provide all-in-one support, from progress management and study materials to reports for the CEO.
Start by listing your candidate employees and checking their CCUS registration status today.