The JLPT in the U.S. is offered only once a year in the U.S., on the first Sunday of December.
No July test is offered in the U.S. For locations in other countries, click here.
The JLPT is open to all non-native Japanese speakers. Eligibility extends to holders of Japanese citizenship. There are no age restrictions for the JLPT.
Yes, you can take the JLPT in the U.S. even if you are not a U.S. citizen. Please note, however, that all test-day instructions will be provided in English, so a basic understanding of English is necessary.
You can register for any level you wish. You do not have to have taken or passed lower levels of the JLPT in order to take higher levels of the test.
Special Testing Accommodations (STA) are adjustments or arrangements made to support test-takers with specific medical, physical, or learning needs, so that they can take the JLPT under conditions that give them a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
Examples include:
– Extended testing time
– Use of medical devices (e.g. insulin pumps, glucose monitors)
– Seating arrangements (e.g. near an exit or with wheelchair access)
– Use of assistive tools (e.g. magnifying glasses, hearing aids)
To receive these accommodations, you must submit the STA request form by the deadline to jlpt@aatj.org and provide supporting documentation such as a doctor’s note.
We review each request carefully and will do our best to provide a testing environment that meets your needs while maintaining the integrity of the exam.
Usually, the check-in starts around 12:00 noon and the test starts around 1:00 pm. The time for test-takers to exit the building depends on the level – test takers will be dismissed sometime between 3:30 and 6:00 pm. Since the test takes place in winter when severe weather could affect roads and public transportation, please make sure you allow for extra time to reach the test site as well as to return home.
Registration usually opens in mid-August. Specific details, including exact dates and instructions, will be available on the main page in late July.
Please note:
Registration follows a staggered schedule based on your testing region (East or West of the Mississippi River) and test level. It begins with N1 in the Eastern region and ends with N5 in the Western region.
You won’t be able to create an account until the registration opens. You will create your account at the time of registration.
All registration information is deleted each year from our registration system after the exam to ensure the security of your personal information. Therefore, you must create a new account and register each year.
Yes, you can! But please note the following:
- A new account must be created for each child/student. You will need to have a unique email address for each person you are registering.
- Please be careful when you fill in your test-taker’s name and details. Sometimes a parent will incorrectly fill in their own name instead of the name of the examinee!
No; you cannot take two tests, since all levels of the JLPT are given on the same day at approximately the same time.
The testing locations will be confirmed in July each year. You can get an idea of the likely testing locations by viewing the past location information on the main page.
You cannot change the testing level or location once you register. Your order (Selection of Level & Test Site) is final from the moment of completing the payment. No refunds or transfers will be granted.
No. Unfortunately, Late Registration and Waitlists are not available due to high demand.
However, the July test is held in different countries, so those who can travel may take the July test in other countries. Click here for overseas locations.
No; We cannot keep a waitlist. We strongly suggest that you look into other testing locations with open spots.
No; you cannot cancel, transfer your seat, or reschedule the test for a future date. Your registration will remain as is, even if you are unable to attend.
Nothing. You do not need to notify anyone of your absence. If you do not attend the test, you will simply not receive a score. Not taking the test will not impact your eligibility to take the JLPT in the future.
No, we cannot take on-site registration. We cannot accept examinees after the registration has closed, even if a seat is available on the day of the exam due to an absence or for other reasons.
Yes. Log on to the registration site, and you can edit your address there.
Special Testing Accommodations (STA) are adjustments or arrangements made to support test-takers with specific medical, physical, or learning needs, so that they can take the JLPT under conditions that give them a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
Examples include:
– Extended testing time
– Use of medical devices (e.g. insulin pumps, glucose monitors)
– Seating arrangements (e.g. near an exit or with wheelchair access)
– Use of assistive tools (e.g. magnifying glasses, hearing aids)
To receive these accommodations, you must submit the STA request form by the deadline to jlpt@aatj.org and, in some cases, provide supporting documentation such as a doctor’s note.
We review each request carefully and will do our best to provide a testing environment that meets your needs while maintaining the integrity of the exam.
Yes. Even if you don’t require extended time or other accommodations, you must submit the STA request form if you plan to bring or use any electronic device — including glucose monitors, insulin pumps, or mobile apps — during the test.
Important: The use of any electronic devices during the exam is strictly prohibited without prior approval. To avoid any issues on test day, please request approval in advance through the STA process.
Yes. Please submit the STA request form. Even if your request is only to be seated near an exit, it’s important that we understand your needs ahead of time. This allows us to do our best to provide an appropriate and accessible testing environment.
Yes. Please submit the STA request form so that we can be aware of your needs in advance.
Yes, you may bring a visual aid, but you must receive advance approval by submitting the STA request form. Please clearly describe the specific device you intend to bring. This allows us to confirm that its use is appropriate and to prepare a testing environment that supports your needs as best as we can.
In most cases, extended time is 1.3 times the regular time.
If you are requesting 1.5 times, your doctor’s note must specifically state that this level of accommodations is necessary.
More time isn’t always better. The JLPT is already a long exam, and choosing the longest option (1.5x) may make it harder to stay focused throughout.
Please consider your personal stamina and test-taking needs carefully when making your decision.
Please go ahead and submit your STA request form by the deadline, even if your doctor’s note is not ready. Your doctor’s note can be submitted shortly afterward.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept any requests after the deadline. You will need to take the exam under regular testing conditions.
You can leave it blank. We will fill it in for you during processing.
If your STA request is not approved, you will still be able to take the test in the same room as the general examinees with standard testing time.
Your name and date of birth will be printed on your certificate as you enter them into the registration system. So please enter your information carefully when registering, and check your order confirmation slip and voucher. If you find any entry errors, make corrections in the JLPT registration portal or contact us (jlpt@aatj.org) as soon as possible.
No. You cannot change the testing level or location once you register. Your order (Selection of Level & Test Site) is final from the moment of completing the payment. No refunds or transfers will be granted.
Please email us at jlpt@aatj.org.
Nothing. There is no need for you to contact us for your absence on the test day. You won’t receive a score or a refund, but it will not affect you in any way if you decide to take the JLPT elsewhere or in the future.
If you arrive more than 10 minutes after the test has begun for any given section (except for the listening section*), you may be denied admission, in which case you will be considered absent. You may be permitted to complete the remaining sections, provided that you comply with the test rules. A decision of pass or fail will be given only to those examinees who take all sections of the test.
*Once the listening section of the test starts, no one will be allowed to enter the classroom. If you arrive after the test administration has begun for the listening section, you will be denied admission and you will be considered absent from that section.
We strongly recommend that you use #2 regular pencils. Mechanical pencils are not prohibited, but they are sharper than pencils and may damage the answer sheet and prevent it from being machine-graded, so we don’t recommend them.
Results are usually released in late January. Once they are ready, you can view them online through the Japan headquarters’ official website: https://www.jlpt-overseas.jp/onlineresults/
Important: Online results are available for a limited time only, so please be sure to check them during the access period.
Online results are available for a limited time only at: https://www.jlpt-overseas.jp/onlineresults/. You will need your registration number and the 8-digit passcode (found on your test voucher). If you have lost your test voucher, you can look it up by logging into the registration site or contact us at jlpt@aatj.org.
If you pass the JLPT, you should receive your certificate around the end of March or by the end of April.
If the certificate cannot be delivered, it will be returned to us by the Post Office, and we will contact you for instructions. However, please note that it takes a very long time for mail to be returned to our office for reasons such as an unknown address, so please wait until May to request a replacement of your certificate.
No, we cannot review test scores after they are issued. Individual examinees’ scores are calculated not only mechanically but also strictly checked by specialists. As stated in the Test Guide, we do not accept any inquiries regarding an individual’s test results. The JLPT uses “scaled scores.” Scaled scores are calculated based on “answering patterns” of each examinee, not on “the number of questions correctly answered.” Therefore, scores in the results may be different from what you thought. Please see this more detailed explanation about scaled scores.
No. The name on the certificate cannot be changed even if your legal name has changed. If you are submitting the documents to your school or employer, please contact them directly and make arrangements according to their instructions.
No results are given by telephone, fax, or email. However, you can request a copy of your results at https://www.jlpt.jp/e/certificate/other.html.
No. A JLPT certificate does not expire.
If your questions are not answered here, please email jlpt@aatj.org
