What is IT Passport?
IT Passport (IT Passport, referred to as iパス or IP) is Japan's IT national exam for people in society and students. It is implemented in accordance with relevant Japanese laws and is responsible for the IPA under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. There are no restrictions on education, age, major or work experience.
This exam does not teach programming, nor can people directly become programmers with a certificate. It proves a set of basic knowledge required in the modern workplace, including computers, networks, information security, databases, AI, project management, operations, accounting and law.
Position in the Japanese IT National Examination System
| Difficulty | Exam | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | IT Passport | IT Basics |
| Level 2 | Information Technology | Information security basics |
| Level 2 | Basic information technician FE | IT engineer basics |
| Level 3 | Application intelligence technician AP | Intermediate IT engineer |
| Level 4 | Network, database, project management, etc. Advanced exam | Professional IT personnel |
IT Passport is located at the entry level of the entire system. It is open to all people in society and students who are about to enter the workplace. It does not only serve IT engineers.
What is the use of the certificate?
Its greatest value is to use the unified examination to prove that you have systematically learned basic knowledge such as network, database, information security, cloud computing, AI, IoT, enterprise IT systems, project management, finance, accounting, law, operation and marketing. Compared with just saying that you can use computers on a daily basis, it is more convincing to write "IT program passed the test" on your resume.
Practical help in finding a job
Non-IT positions
It is a practical bonus for positions such as general affairs, sales, marketing, personnel, procurement, logistics, manufacturing, banking, insurance, consulting, planning, DX, IT sales and IT support. Especially for job seekers who are not computer majors, it can show that they have formal basic IT knowledge.
Is it recognized by Japanese companies?
Many large companies, government agencies and local governments will adopt or refer to this exam, including NTT DATA, KDDI, SCSK, NEC Networks & System Integration, Canon Marketing Japan, Otsuka Chamber of Commerce, Toyota Systems and Japan Research Institute Information Services. Some companies will also ask whether they have passed the IT Passport or recorded test scores in the fresh graduate registration form.
Is it worth taking the exam to be a programmer?
For programmer, SE or IT Engineer recruitment, the value of FE for basic information technicians is significantly higher than that of IT Passport. If you have no IT foundation at all, it is a reasonable route to take the IT Passport first and then prepare for FE. If you have mastered programming, networking and databases, you can directly prepare for FE. There is no need to take the IT Passport first to get a certificate.
Common advancement routes:IT Passport → Basic Information Technician FE → Applied Information Technician AP → Professional examination in the corresponding direction.
The value that is easily overlooked
The exam is not just about technology. Among the 100 questions, there are about 35 management and business questions, 20 IT management questions and 45 IT technology questions. Nearly half of them are not pure computer knowledge. Therefore, it is closer to a "comprehensive basic knowledge examination for professionals in the IT era."
The first major field: Strategy
Strategy (ストラテジ series) has about 35 questions, covering the following content:
- Corporate activities:Corporate organization, finance, accounting, profit and loss statement, balance sheet, ROE, ROI, break-even point, QC and PDCA
- Law:Copyright, patent, trademark, unfair competition, personal information protection, labor law, contract and information ethics
- Business operation:SWOT, PEST, 3C, 4P, marketing, CRM, SCM, ERP, BSC, KPI and KGI
- IT business strategy:DX, AI, IoT, big data, cloud services, RPA, e-commerce and FinTech
The second largest field: Management
Management (Management Department) has about 20 questions, mainly including:
- System development:Requirements definition, design, development, testing, operations, waterfall development and Agile
- Project management:Project plan, duration, cost, risk, WBS and schedule management
- IT service management:SLA, service desk, incident management, backup and system maintenance
- System audit:Audit Responsibility, Independence and Risk Control
The third major field: Technology
Technology (Technology) has about 45 questions, which is the field with the largest proportion and the widest scope.
- Computer basics:CPU, RAM, ROM, SSD, HDD, cache, binary, bytes, bits and operating system
- Software:OS, applications, middleware, API and open source software
- Network:IP Address, LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, DNS, DHCP, HTTP, HTTPS, VPN and Routers
- Databases:DBMS, SQL Basics, Primary Keys, Foreign Keys, Relational Databases, Data Tables and Normalization
- Information Security:Password, hash, digital signature, public key, private key, SSL/TLS, malware, ransomware, phishing, Firewall, authentication, multi-factor authentication and access control
- AI and data:AI, machine learning, big data, data science and IoT
Exam format
IT Passport adopts CBT (Computer Based Testing) format. Candidates need to go to a designated examination center and answer questions on the computer in the examination room, instead of taking the examination remotely at home. In principle, reservations can be made all year round, and you can choose the examination venue, date and time period by yourself.
Question volume and test time
The test consists of 100 four-choice multiple-choice questions, and the time is 120 minutes, with an average of about 72 seconds per question. There are no essays, interviews, actual programming, computer work, or writing SQL on the spot.
| Field | Approximate number of questions |
|---|---|
| Strategy | 35 |
| Management | 20 |
| Technology | 45 |
| Total | 100 |
100 questions are not all scored
There are about 92 questions that are actually scored, including about 32 questions for Strategy, about 18 questions for Management, and about 42 questions for Technology. The remaining 8 questions are used for future test questions. Candidates do not know which 8 questions are not scored, so all 100 questions need to be answered carefully.
Passing score
The exam is scored using IRT (Item Response Theory). Answering 60 questions correctly does not necessarily mean you are qualified. The final score ranges from 0 to 1000 points and must meet both:
- Total score:600 points or more
- Strategy：300 points or more
- Management：300 points or more
- Technology：300 points or more
Even if the total score reaches 650 points, as long as there is only 280 points in a certain area, you will still not be qualified.
Exam difficulty
- Completely zero-based IT:★★★☆☆
- Ordinary office staff:★★☆☆☆～★★★☆☆
- Already engaged in IT work:★☆☆☆☆～★★☆☆☆
The difficulty is not the depth of knowledge, but the wide scope and many nouns. Abbreviations such as CRM, SCM, ERP, BPR, RPA, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, DNS, DHCP, VPN and PKI may number in the hundreds.
Actual pass rate
The number of applicants in 2025 is 307,266, and 132,012 people passed. The published pass rate is 48.6%. From April to June 2026, a total of 53,411 people actually took the exam, and 27,020 people passed, with a pass rate of 50.6%. Overall, about two people take it, and one person passes; it's not particularly difficult, but it's not an exam suitable for taking it naked without any preparation.
How long do you need to prepare?
| Basics | Recommended study time |
|---|---|
| Already engaged in IT work | 20～40 hours |
| Frequently use computers | 40～60 hours |
| Ordinary office staff | 60～100 hours |
| Completely zero-based IT | 80～120 hours |
| Zero-based IT and weak Japanese professional vocabulary | 100～150 hours |
For most ordinary adults, 60 to 100 hours is a reasonable preparation range. If you study for 1 hour a day, you can prepare for 2 to 3 months; if you study for 2 hours a day, it usually takes 1 to 1.5 months; if you study intensively for 3 hours a day, you have a chance to complete it in 3 to 4 weeks.
Recommended six-week preparation period
- Week 1:Strategy, focusing on business, finance, law and marketing
- Week 2:Technology basics, including CPU, memory, OS, binary and software
- Week 3:Technology focus, including network, database and information security
- Week 4:Management and new technologies, including project management, development process, Agile, Cloud, AI, IoT and Data Science
- Week 5:Start focusing on answering questions, aiming for at least 500 questions
- Week 6:Then answer 500 to 1000 questions and focus your time on the wrong questions.
How many questions should you answer?
When you just want to pass, 500 questions can be regarded as the minimum; a more secure range is 1000 to 1500 questions. Once you reach about 2,000 questions, it will usually be relatively stable. The point is not to memorize the options mechanically, but to figure out why each wrong question is wrong and to master related concepts in the same knowledge group.
Free learning resources
IPA official past questions
IPA publishes test questions and answers for 2026, 2025, 2024 and earlier years, which is one of the most important materials when preparing for exams.
IT Passport Past Questions Dojo
This question bank contains about 2700 questions, which can be practiced for free on mobile phones or computers. It supports chapter-by-chapter, random and simulated exam modes, and can automatically record wrong questions and view the analysis. One textbook, combined with past questions and IPA official questions, is enough to prepare for the exam.
Do you need to purchase textbooks?
If you have no IT foundation at all, it is recommended to purchase the latest version of the textbook; people who are already familiar with computer basics may not necessarily need it. There is no need to buy five or six textbooks at the same time. A reasonable combination is the latest version of the textbook, past questions and official IPA past questions.
Precautions when purchasing textbooks
When buying a textbook in 2026, choose the 2026 edition or one clearly marked as compatible with the latest syllabus. The current IT Passport syllabus is Version 6.5, announced in January 2026. AI, DX, cloud computing, information security, laws, and other technologies continue to evolve, so saving $3 on a 2019 or 2020 edition is not worthwhile.
Textbook and test preparation budget
The following amounts are approximate U.S. dollar conversions: a standard textbook costs about $10–16, a practice book about $6–13, and some 2026 past-question books about $8.
| project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Exam | $47 |
| Textbook | $10–16 |
| Online question bank | $0 |
| Transportation | Depends on distance |
| Total | $57–70, plus transportation |
When using all free materials, you only need to pay $47 exam fee and transportation fee. The exchange rate will change, and the actual deduction amount will be determined at the time of payment.
Registration conditions
There are no special qualification restrictions for the examination. It does not require Japanese nationality, university or high school education, work experience, IT experience, computer professional background or a specific age. Ordinary people can register.
Registration process
After entering the IT Passport official registration website, complete the following steps in sequence:
Register user ID → Fill in personal information → Log in → Select "Registration Application" → Select region and examination center → Select date and time → Payment → Download "Confirmation Ticket" → Go to the examination room on time.
The registration system usually displays available test dates approximately three months in the future.
Payment Method
The main payment methods include credit card, convenience store payment and Voucher. It is most convenient for individuals to register using a credit card; payment at a convenience store is also possible, but the nearest exam date that can be booked is usually later. Currently, exams can only be booked for at least five days later. The examination fee is $47, including tax. In principle, there will be no refunds after payment.
Exam date and time
IT Passport is not only taken once or twice a year, but can usually be taken throughout the year. Candidates can choose the examination venue, date and time by themselves. Many examination rooms have morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
CBT suspension arrangement in 2026
The existing CBT examination system is planned to be temporarily suspended from December 28, 2026 to facilitate system replacement. The date of resumption after January 2027 will be announced separately. For those who are preparing to take the exam in 2026, it is best to arrange to complete it from November to mid-December, rather than delaying it until the last few days of December.
System adjustment in 2027
IPA plans to launch a new examination system in 2027, and the IT Passport content will also be adjusted. The currently announced plan is still 120 minutes and 100 questions. If the goal is just to obtain a certificate, there is no need to wait until 2027.
Can the time be modified after registration?
Currently, the appointment can be modified three days before the exam day; it cannot be changed two days before the exam until the day after. This arrangement is much more flexible than the once-a-year qualifying exam.
What to bring with you on the day of the exam
- Confirmation ticket:You can also accurately record the recipient number, user ID and confirmation ticket
- Valid photo ID:For example, residence card, driver's license, My Number Card or passport
Foreigners taking exams in Japan
There are no additional complicated requirements for foreigners living in Japan, and the residence card can be used as an identity confirmation document. The registered name must be consistent with the identity document, especially the way to fill in English letters, katakana and Chinese characters, because the certificate information will be produced based on the registration information.
Mobile phones, watches and calculators
Mobile phones, smart watches, computers, electronic dictionaries and calculators must be placed in bags or lockers and cannot be placed on the table; ordinary watches cannot be brought into the examination room for use, and the remaining time will be displayed on the computer screen.
You cannot bring your own electronic calculator. Supplies such as scratch paper and mechanical pencils will be provided in the examination room. Simple calculations such as binary, probability, data capacity, financial and break-even points need to be completed by yourself, but the overall mathematics difficulty is not high.
When will you see the results after the test?
After you finish answering the questions, the system will immediately display the total evaluation score and the scores in the three areas of Strategy, Management and Technology. You can also download the score report from the official website. Therefore, when you leave the exam room, you can usually tell whether you have a high probability of passing.
Officially qualified announcement
What the computer displayed on the spot was not the final qualified announcement. Official results are generally released in the middle to late month of the next month of the exam. For example, if you take the exam in August 2026, the plan will be officially announced on September 28, 2026, and the certificate is expected to be sent out in October.
Certificate and validity period
Those who pass the test will receive an official certificate of qualification signed by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. The certificate has no validity period and does not require annual review, renewal, renewal or re-examination. After passing in 2026, you can still write down qualifying experience on your resume in 2030.
Standard writing method on resume
The qualification column of Japanese resume can be written:
There is no need to add non-existent level descriptions such as "First Class".
The three most common test preparation misunderstandings
Misunderstanding 1: Treat it as a computer knowledge test
The test will span the fields of operations, accounting, law, marketing, network and security, and may continuously appear on completely different topics such as SWOT, BSC, copyright period, break-even point, CRM, SCM, DNS and digital signatures. Range jumps are the easiest place for naked test takers to lose points.
Misunderstanding 2: Only learn IT technology
Even if the programmer is familiar with networks, databases, security and operating systems, as long as the Strategy score is less than 300, he will not be able to pass. Minimum scores must be maintained in all three areas.
Misunderstanding 3: Memorize only the options
When answering questions, you cannot just memorize the option B for a certain question. When encountering SaaS questions, you should also clarify the differences between SaaS, PaaS and IaaS, and let a wrong question bring out a set of knowledge.
A cost-effective and efficient exam preparation solution
- Choose a 2026 latest version of IT Passport textbook and read it quickly from the beginning without memorizing it word for word.
- Start using IT Park now.
- Complete 500 questions first and count the accuracy in the three fields.
- Relearn the areas with the lowest accuracy. For example, when Technology is 78%, Strategy is 53%, and Management is 72%, focus on Strategy.
- A total of 1000 to 1500 questions have been answered.
- Complete the 100-question mock test strictly in 120 minutes and practice at least 3 to 5 times.
When is the right time to register for the exam?
- The accuracy of the simulation is about 60%:The risk is higher
- About 65%:There is a chance, but it is unstable
- About 70%:You can consider taking the exam
- More than 75%:Relatively stable
- More than 80%:There is usually no need to continue to delay
The official exam uses IRT scoring. These accuracy rates are only indicators for preparation judgment and are not official score conversions.
Arrangements starting from August 2026
If you have no basic knowledge, you can start learning in late August, complete the teaching materials and gradually brush up on the questions in September, focus on practicing in October, and take the exam from the end of October to November. This time is more relaxed and can avoid the suspension period of the CBT system planned to start on December 28, 2026.
Is it worth taking the exam for different groups of people?
| Situation | Level of recommendation |
|---|---|
| Completely zero foundation in IT | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Want to work in an ordinary company in Japan | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Liberal arts, affairs or business positions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Want to transfer to the IT industry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Getting started in IT sales or IT consulting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Already engaged in program development | ⭐⭐ |
| Already passed FE | ⭐ |
| Already passed AP | Basically not necessary |
A course aiming to improve employment competitiveness
IT Passport is suitable for establishing a complete IT knowledge map first. After that, you should continue to prepare for basic intelligence technician FE to begin to reflect the true IT professional capabilities, and then divide according to career direction:
- Program development:Continue to prepare for AP
- Network:Network Specialist
- Security:Information security related exam
- Project management:Project Manager
- Database:Database Specialist
Conclusion
IT Passport is not a certificate that is sufficient to prove advanced technical abilities, but an IT basic exam with low investment, moderate difficulty, lifelong validity and national certification. For those who do not have an IT background and want to work in Japan for a long time, it will cost about 60 to 100 hours and a $47 exam fee, and the overall cost-effectiveness is high.
If the goal is to significantly improve the competitiveness of IT engineer positions, IT Passport is only suitable as a starting point. Those who continue to challenge basic intelligence technology FE after passing it are a key step in moving from basic knowledge to professional capabilities.