Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry wants to raise the fees for both national electrician exams, saying that at the current rates it expects continuing the tests in the 2027 fiscal year to be difficult. The draft amends the Electrician Work Act enforcement ordinance, and the public comment period runs until 6 December.
What the draft changes
Under the Electrician Work Act, only holders of a first-class or second-class electrician licence may do certain electrical work, and a licence requires passing the matching exam. Candidates pay a fee set by ordinance to cover actual costs.
The draft changes four figures in the fee table of Article 13: the first- and second-class exam fees, each with a standard (postal) rate and a lower rate for electronic applications.
| Exam | Standard (postal) application | Electronic application |
|---|---|---|
| First-class electrician | ¥14,400 to ¥17,000 | ¥13,000 to ¥15,500 |
| Second-class electrician | ¥12,500 to ¥13,800 | ¥11,100 to ¥12,300 |
The electronic discount stays in the draft. The ordinance text defines electronic applications as those filed through the electronic information processing system under the law promoting the use of information and communications technology in administration.
METI's stated reason
METI says labour costs, prices, the costs of setting up and running exam venues, and the cost of materials for the practical exam have all risen since the current fees were set. At today's fees, it expects continuing the exams in the 2027 fiscal year to be difficult. The ministry presents the change as a way to keep exam opportunities available. The overview gives no breakdown of those costs and no applicant numbers.
Timetable and how to comment
The draft was published on 6 November 2026 as a voluntary comment process, not one run under the Administrative Procedure Act. Comments must arrive by 6 December 2026. METI plans a cabinet decision in December 2026, with promulgation and entry into force in early January 2027. The draft says the ordinance takes effect on the day it is promulgated.
Comments must be in Japanese, using the ministry's form, and can be filed through the e-Gov portal, by post or by email to the Electric Power Safety Division of METI's Industrial Safety and Security Group. METI says it will use comments as a reference for its final decision but will not reply to them individually.