Hi everyone,
Since my last post I’ve been trying to do some homework on what would be the best choice for a computer/IT degree and I came across some info here and there about alternative qualifications such as the ITPEC exam.
Does anyone here know if this is a viable alternative to a bachelors degree with regard to both Japanese immigration and companies/employers ?
I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch and that “easy” options usually have a big down side to them but I would still like to know what you folk’s think.
Is it a good idea or a foolish one?
5 comments
Never heard of ITPEC, but according to their own website:
“*Due to the mutual recognitions concluded between Japanese government and ITPEC member countries, preferential immigration treatment of Japan is given to FE and AP passers. Passing these FE and AP examinations will give you the big chance to work in Japan as an IT engineer.*”
It goes on to list those countries: Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Bangladesh.
It goes on to explain why “*the target of this initiative is to raise the skill level of IT engineers in each country, to increase cross-border job opportunities and to promote alliance of IT companies in the region.*”
Are you from one of those countries?
If you’re not from the target countries, it’s not an alternative for you.
And even if it was, this kind of stuff would not make it easy for you to get a job here. You’d be eligible for a visa, but would need to convince the company you’d be a good hire.
So just do a damn bachelor’s degree and get some work experience in your home country. Japan is not going anywhere, and you can bide your time.
>…a good idea or a foolish one?
A tiny handful of Western people (¿3?) went to the Philippines to take the prep courses and ITPEC exam in English since the Philippines is the **only** country offering the ITPEC exams in English.
Even in English, studying for the ITPEC exams for 6~8 months is nearly as difficult as getting a relevant bachelor’s degree. And, the Philippine cram schools for the ITPEC exams are often so sleazy that it is possible to a take the “required” prep courses and still massively fail the ITPEC exams. Pinoys passing the ITPEC exams are most often experienced engineers with Philippine engineering degrees.
_________
>…a good idea or a foolish one?
#MOOT POINT.
The foreign ITPEC exams have been closed for a year and a half, and the entire program may be abandoned as a “failure.” Right now it is only possible to take the ITPEC exams in Japanese in Japan (and Japan is closed to *[nama](https://japaneseuniverse.com/2021/08/19/%E7%94%9F-what-does-nama-mean/)* foreigners).
*Source:*
In major Japanese companies like Toshiba, Hitachi, etc., I have worked with (interpreted for) Pinoys who have passed the ITPEC exams and N3/N2 Japanese. They strike me as the cream-of-the-crop and VASTLY better than their Japanese counterparts.
Thanks for your replies everyone, I guess I can cross that idea off the list.
YuumiK, thanks for your insight, I came across both ITPEC and PhillNITS in an article on this site dated [site](https://japan-dev.com/blog/getting-a-visa-as-an-engineer-in-japan) June 2nd 2021 that links to a youtube video from 2016 by a German who took the exam.
I guess things have changed.
>ITPEC
I have never heard of this cert and it seems that most of those posting have not either, so that says something.
A degree will always outweigh certifications UNLESS it’s high level certs. Certs are not designed to replace experience, only solidify. By this I mean that getting a cert when you do not have the experience to back it up is not a good idea unless it’s the low level CompTIAs.