How to Get a License to Teach English in Japan
ALTs are assistants and that means they cannot legally teach in a classroom alone. Even if you obtained a teaching license in your home country, without a Japanese teaching license you’re limited to being an ALT if you want to teach at a school. Although there is no English teacher license for foreigners, you can obtain a “special license" (特別免許状 tokubetsu menkyojyou) through a prefectural board of education.
Since 2014, foreigners without teaching licenses have been able to obtain this special license if they fulfill certain requirements. Either you currently teach English at a Japanese school or an international school and have worked there for at least over 1 semester (approximately 600 hours) or you have roughly 3 years of work experience at a private company such as an Eikaiwa. An exception to these requirements may be made for the following:
- You possess teaching qualifications obtained in a foreign country
- You possess a master’s or doctor’s degree
- Your performance in various competitions
- You completed a teacher training course at a college
- Evaluation of your execution of mock classes
Essentially…
- The license is valid for 10 years and is renewable
- The license is available nationwide but only valid in the prefecture where you obtained it
- Specific requirements vary by prefecture
- Your school must vouch for you and apply on your behalf
It should be noted that if you do not possess Japanese citizenship, you cannot become a “教諭 kyouyu” at a public school (公立学校 kouritsu gakkou). Rather you will be a “常勤講師 jyoukin koushi” (ref.). Both kyouyu and koushi translate to instructor or teacher (jyoukin means full-time) but in this context they are used to differentiate. The main difference is that a kyouyu can hold positions such as principal or vice principal while a jyoukin koushi cannot (ref.).
Types of Teaching Licenses[]
| Regular License | Kindergarten | Advanced |
Basic requirement: - Advanced (master's degree) - Type 1 (bachelor's degree) - Type 2 (associate's degree) | |
| Type 1 | ||||
| Type 2 | ||||
| Elementary | Advanced | |||
| Type 1 | ||||
| Type 2 | ||||
| Junior High School | Advanced | Japanese, social studies, math, science, music, art, health and PE, health, technology, home economics, career, career guidance, career training, foreign languages, religion | ||
| Type 1 | ||||
| Type 2 | ||||
| High School | Advanced | Japanese, geography and history, civics, math, science, music, art, crafts, calligraphy, health and PE, health, nursing, nursing training, home economics, home economics training, information, information training, agriculture, agriculture training, manufacturing, manufacturing training, commerce, commerce training, fishery, fishery training, welfare, welfare training, nautical, nautical training, career guidance, foreign languages, religion
(Type 1 only) judo, kendo, information technology, architecture, interior design, design, information processing, accounting | ||
| Type 1 | ||||
| ※In addition to the above, the following licenses are not divided by school type or subject (there are licenses in some areas for special support school teacher licenses).
・special support school teacher license | ||||
| Special License | ||||
| Temporary License | ||||
| Translation Note |
| If you look up the various types of licenses you will find that the following terms are translated several ways. 専修 = Advanced, Specialized 一種 = Type 1, Type I, First Type, Grade 1, Grade I 二種 = Type 2, Type II, Second Type, Grade 2, Grade II 免許状 = license, certificate |
Special License[]
The following sections are unofficial translations of documents found on MEXT's website. You can find the list of original documents HERE.
What is a Special License?[]
| 1. 特別免許状とは What is a Special License? |
A special license is an “instructor” license to accept into schools a person who has not completed a teacher training course at a college or university but has specialized knowledge, skills and experience related to the subject they are in charge of as a teacher with the objective of handling the diversification of and invigorating school education. (Est. 1988)
A special license can be granted for all subjects at elementary, junior high and high schools as well as all independent subjects and independent activities at special support schools. In order to obtain a special license, you are required to pass the education staff certification/selection [教育職員検定 kyouiku shokuin kentei] conducted by a prefectural board of education.
| Type of License | Period of Validity | Area of Validity | How to Obtain | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular License | 10 years (renewable) | Nationwide | Granted to a person who applies for the license to a prefectural board of education upon completing a teacher licensing course at a college or university and acquiring the required qualification (acquirement of the number of required credits for the degree). | Licenses are available for each type of school and job type and are classified as Advanced, Type 1 and Type 2 (only Advanced and Type 1 for high schools).
|
| Special License | 10 years (renewable) | Prefecture where it was granted | Granted to a person who has passed an education staff certification/selection conducted by a board of education based on the recommendation of one (board of education, school principal, etc.) that seeks to appoint or employ said person. | There is no special license in the area of special support education for preschool, school nurses, nutrition teachers, and special support schools.
|
※1 For details please see MEXT’s website. (http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/01_h.htm)
※2 You cannot be granted a regular license for special support schools based on having a special license for special support schools.
Translator’s notes:
*The highest classification is advanced, followed by type 1 and then type 2.
**An example of obtaining a license for an adjacent school type is a teacher with an license to teach elementary school applying for a type 2 preschool teacher license. Reference
*** “Fewer than normal credits” refers to obtaining fewer college credits than normally required for the license you are applying for. Depending on what type of license you are applying for, the minimum number of required credits varies.
****college credits
Guidelines for Granting a Special License[]
| 2. 特別免許状授与の指針 “Guidelines for Granting a Special License” |
The education staff certification/selection criteria for granting a special license are decided by each prefectural board of education, however, because utilization of this system nationwide is not exactly increasing, MEXT has created the “Guidelines on Education Staff Certification for the Granting of a Special License” (2014).
| Main Criteria |
① Specialized knowledge, experience or skills related to a school subject
→ It is checked whether the candidate has either experience engaging in classes related to a school subject at a school or outside educational facility (generally for more than 600 hours) or has work experience in a particular field related to the subject.
② Social standing and the necessary passion and insight to perform the work duties of a teacher
→ This is checked using a recommendation letter and a statement of purpose.
→ It is checked whether school education will be taught effectively by placing the candidate at a school through a recommendation letter written by the candidate’s appointer or employer.
→ The candidate’s capacity as a teacher is checked through an interview with persons with relevant knowledge and experience and school management staff.
| Other |
The system for granting special licenses includes coordinating with municipal level boards of education and school within the area, preparing and spreading awareness of the procedures for applying for a special license, conducting trainings for those with a special license so that they can work smoothly at school, and providing a support system for those with a special license whose Japanese language proficiency is lacking.
The full text of the “Guidelines on Education Staff Certification for the Granting of a Special License” is posted on MEXT’s website. (PDF) (http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/education/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2014/06/23/1348574_3.pdf )(日本語)
| As a result of establishing these guidelines in 2014, the number of special licenses granted in 2015 increased. (92 granted in 2014, 215 granted in 2015) |
Special License Granting Statistics[]
| 3. 特別免許状の授与状況 Special License Granting Statistics |
In 2015, 97 special licenses for foreign languages where granted to ALTs, university teachers, and eikaiwa teachers.
(See original document for full statistics.)
Process of Obtaining a Special License (Example)[]
| 4. 特別免許状授与までの流れ（例） Process of Obtaining a Special License (Example) |
(1) If the authority granting the license (prefectural board of education) is the employer
- Recruitment of external personnel
- External personnel without a license submit application to prefectural BOE
- Prefectural BOE conducts recruitment selection
- Prefectural BOE conducts education staff certification/selection for granting a special license and applicant passes
- Applicant is granted a special license and hired
(2) If a special license is granted via recommendation letter by employer
- Recruitment of external personnel
- External personnel without a license submit application to school organization
- School organization, etc. conducts recruitment selection
- School organization, etc. unofficially offers the job to the applicant (内定 naitei)
- School organization, etc. submits letter of recommendation and application for a license to prefectural BOE
- Prefectural BOE conducts education staff certification/selection for granting a special license and applicant passes
- Prefectural BOE grants a special license to the applicant
In recent years, the number of prefectural boards of education that conduct at the same time the education staff selection and the education staff certification/selection for granting a special license for individuals without a teaching license and upon passing both grant the special license is increasing. (Specialist recruitment, etc.)
| [About post-hiring trainings] Working persons who were granted a special license receive necessary training from each appointing authority such as individual guidance from a head of grade or head of subject teacher and training courses at a graduate school level via collaboration with a graduate school of teacher education. Also, working persons take mid-level teachers or other capacity development trainings to start off, as well as trainings conducted by each local government. |
Special License Q&A[]
| 6. 特別免許状Q&A Special License Q&A |
(Question 1)
Currently I work at an English related company and have experience working overseas and I want to teach English at a school in the future. Is it possible to do so if I use the special license system?
Answer: A special license is granted through the education staff certification/selection process based on the recommendation of the board of education or school organization seeking to employ you
after confirming that you possess ①specialized knowledge, experience or skills related to the subject you are in charge of and ②the social standing and the necessary passion and insight to perform the work duties of a teacher, and after hearing ③the opinions of persons with relevant knowledge and experience and school management staff in advance.
The specific procedures and screening criteria are decided by each prefectural board of education, however, there are cases where you already work at a school (e.g. ALT) and the school where you work recommends you, or you receive a recommendation from a board of education or school organization by passing their public recruitment on the premise that you will receive a special license.
(Question 2)
If I am hired with a special license, will I be treated differently from people with a regular license?
Answer: Although things differ depending on the decisions of the hiring/appointing board of education, generally, persons with a special license are employed as a "教諭 kyouyu" teacher so labor requirements and treatment does not differ from persons with a regular license.
(Question 3)
Why does a regular license for elementary school allow you to teach all subjects but a special license for elementary school only allows you to teach one subject?
Answer: A special license is granted based on "specialized knowledge, experience or skills related to a subject" so for elementary schools a license is granted for individual subjects and not all subjects together. It is possible to add on to the contents of your license and be in charge of "moral education", "special activities", and "integrated study time" related to the subject of your license.
Applying for a Special License in Tokyo[]
The screening process for special license applicants in Tokyo is very strict. If you believe that you are strongly qualified as an English teacher and intend to continue teaching English in Tokyo after the JET Programme, please consult with your supervisor and vice principal.
If your school wants to recommend you for a special license, they must first consult the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Personnel Division Selection and License Section (東京都教育庁人事部選考課). Please do not contact the Selection and License Section yourself.