Are you pursuing your goal on how to become a medical doctor in Japan or are you already on the path to achieving this goal? Do you want to know your chances of getting into a medical school in Japan?
One of the noblest and most fulfilling careers in the world is being a doctor. Additionally, choosing to study in Japan is a wise choice. One of the most well-known nations on the East Asian islands is Japan, which is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Its western border is shared by the Sea of Japan, which spans from Taiwan and the East China Sea in the south to the Sea of Okhotsk in the north.
Japan is one of those Asian nations that draws foreign students because it has excellent educational institutions and programs, including those in medicine. However, due to the standards and processes involved, becoming a doctor is not a simple endeavor.
The appropriate actions you can follow to become a medical doctor in Japan are outlined in this article.
These actions are simple to follow. If you follow our advice, you would either require little to no assistance.
Additionally, we have provided the prerequisites you need to apply to medical schools in Japan. This means that all of your inquiries about studying in Japan will be addressed at the conclusion of this essay.
Allow me to guide you on this little journey that provides you with top-notch information on how to study for and practice medicine in Japan if that is what you are hoping to find.
Is Japan Good To Study Medicine?
You have just made a wise choice if you want to study medicine in Japan. Japanese medical schools have a reputation for excellence and prominence in the training of medical professionals.
Because medical students receive top-notch training in premier labs and research centers, becoming a doctor is a tremendously exciting and academic profession.
You can obtain a PhD in medicine or an M.D. in Japanese medical schools. In addition to having excellent academics, Japan is a popular tourism destination with a rich cultural and artistic heritage.
You will undoubtedly enjoy studying in Japan as you pursue a career in medicine.
How Much Does It Cost To Study MBBS in Japan?
Comparing studying medicine to other degree programs, it is undeniably more expensive. And medical school in Japan is no different.
However, when compared to high-profile nations like the USA and UK, the cost of an MBBS in Japan is fairly affordable. The average cost for students who want to study medicine in Japan will be roughly 535,800 YEN (INR 3,50,000).
However, there will be an additional fee for the course application, the exam, and the lodging, which might be between 90,000 and 150,000 YEN (INR 60,000- 1,00,000).
List of Top 10 Best Schools to Become a Medical Doctor in Japan
Here are the top 10 institutions you can rely on to prepare you for a career as a medical doctor in Japan if you’re interested in attending one of the country’s top medical schools;
Senior female and mid adult male Japanese doctors in conversation with nurse at Tokyo hospital nurses station.
- Nagoya University
- Chiba University.
- Tohoku University
- Kyushu University
- Keio University
- Waseda University
- Kyoto University
- University of Tsukuba
- Tokyo Medical University
- Tokyo Medical and Dental University
What Are the Admission Requirements to Apply to Become a Medical Doctor in Japan?
Depending on the institution, different qualifications are needed to study in Japan. Based on your course of study, some universities will have additional prerequisites.
The prerequisites listed below must be met before you submit an application for MBBS admission in Japan:
- Age of applicants must be above 17 years.
- You must have scored a minimum aggregate of 50% in class 12th.
- You must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as subjects in class 12th.
- NEET is a compulsory exam for Indians.
- Some universities may also require TOEFL/IELTS tests.
- You must provide all the certificates such as mark sheets, school leaving certificates etc to authenticate your qualification while sending an application for admission.
How Do I Become a Medical Doctor in Japan?
You must meet a number of prerequisites in addition to the ones we’ve given above to be eligible to become a medical doctor in Japan.
To ensure your application has a possibility of being taken into account when applying to medical schools in Japan, you must possess certain abilities and competencies in addition to the required application documents.
How to Become a Medical Doctor in Japan
1. The first requirement for anyone considering a medical career in Japan is of course – a medical degree.
Thus, attending one of Japan’s many prestigious institutions is the first step on how to become a medical doctor in Japan.
No matter which Japanese university you apply to, it will take six years to earn a medical degree. Students familiarize themselves with medicine during their first two years by learning fundamental medical concepts. Applied medicine coursework lasting two years and a subsequent medical clerkship at the university hospital lasting another two years come next. Students’ knowledge of medicine and potential careers in medicine has expanded during the past two years.
All prospective medical students in Japan are required to be fluent Japanese speakers, despite the application procedure and medical curriculum being similar to those in other nations. This calls for proficiency in both conversational Japanese as well as medical and scientific vocabulary. Non-native speakers may find this challenging, so individuals who are unable to complete their undergraduate degrees in Japan are recommended to do it elsewhere. In doing so, students maintain their eligibility for a later post-graduate medical school in Japan.
2. Once an individual has earned a medical degree, the next step will be to apply and pass the national medical examination.
Second step on how to become a medical doctor in Japan. Both domestic and international applicants must fulfill specific prerequisites in order to apply. For starters, a prospective applicant must have finished a medical program before submitting an application for the exam. In other words, foreign medical professionals who hold a license from the nation in which they received their education are also regarded qualified to sit for the exam and are free to apply.
When applying for the exam, a medical degree will be insufficient on its own. The ability to speak another language is a prerequisite. Each participant must therefore demonstrate at least N1 level competency in Japanese, as anything less disqualifies them from the test.
3. Most countries require medical graduates to complete a residency program upon graduation, and Japan is no different.
The next step on how to become a medical doctor in Japan is to finish a two-year residency program after passing their medical test. This can be done at a hospital that is affiliated with a university or one that is one.
Medical graduates must decide on their preferred field of interest before submitting an application to a residency program. Their medical specialty will begin with this. However, it’s vital to remember that medical residency programs in Japan are very competitive. As a result, candidates will be evaluated based on both their academic and medical backgrounds. The receipt of letters of recommendation from past teachers and coworkers is yet another essential requirement for getting the residency of choice.
4. Obtaining a medical license is the final and possibly most important step before beginning a medical career in Japan.
All qualified candidates must succeed on the National Medical Practitioners Examination in order to do so. This is essential for anyone aspiring to practice medicine in Japan. Both language ability and enough medical knowledge and training will be required for the exam. As a result, it does not significantly differ from other medical license tests worldwide.
A person who passes the test is granted medical doctor status in Japan right away. However, each practitioner must complete a two-year residency program at a Japanese university-affiliated hospital before applying for jobs or starting a solo practice.
5. With a completed two-year residency and obtained medical license, medical graduates are ready to begin their medical careers in Japan.
On the one hand, it is possible to start a private practice because they are not very common in Japan, particularly in the field of psychiatry.
A different choice is to look for work in a hospital in Japan. This route won’t be very simple, though. For example, having strong contacts and references in addition to academic excellence will be necessary to land a job in a hospital in Japan. Therefore, local candidates with outstanding recommendations and a strong network of relationships will prevail.
However, there is a third choice available to those looking for medical career in Japan. In particular, hospitals in larger Japanese cities occasionally seek to hire English-speaking professionals, a position that is suitable for foreign medical professionals. Consequently, those who want to practice medicine in Japan should look for these kinds of job possibilities.
6. The next step for medical practitioners prefers to those coming from outside of Japan.
Medical professionals must first apply for a work visa after arriving before looking for employment. Most of the time, medical professionals will qualify for the normal work visa, which makes the application procedure simple.
All practitioners are required to fill out a visa application form and submit it together with their passport, a recent photo, and a letter outlining their employer’s pay requirements. All applicants must also provide a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), in addition to the above requirements.
I sincerely hope that you learned anything from and found this essay on how to become a doctor in Japan useful.
Visit the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.
7. Obtain a Work Visa
Yes, a work visa is required if you want to practice medicine in Japan. Medical professionals are often covered in Japan by the standard Working Visa.
In Japan, obtaining a work visa is typically simple. You must fill out a Japanese visa application form in person at a local Japanese consulate or embassy in your nation.
The following are the prerequisites for entry to apply for a Japanese work visa;
- Passport
- Recent photograph
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- Written letter from your company detailing your position and expected income.
Using these records, you can be sure to receive your work visa. Once you have a work visa, become a doctor in Japan is nearly certain to happen.
8. Get a Job as a Medical Doctor
You will have completed all six of the aforementioned steps once you have all you need to practice medicine in Japan. But if you don’t get employment as a doctor, that will continue to be reported in the media.
Additionally, you are free to start your own practice or look for employment in a Japanese hospital once you have earned your medical license. However, you must first fulfill the two-year obligatory residency requirement before you can do this.
You can concentrate on one area of psychiatry as a private practitioner. In Japan, psychiatrists are in short supply.
Not only would starting a private practice in that area ensure that you are happy with your decision to study medicine in Japan, but it will also increase your income.
However, you can utilize any well-known online job-search tool if you wish to work in a hospital. But keep in mind that if you’re applying online and have little to no expertise in the medical industry, you might find it difficult to secure a position at a Japanese hospital.
If you have good connections or someone who can recommend you, it would be much simpler for you. Your journey to becoming a doctor in Japan is now a reality once you’ve cleared your road.
Read Also: Steps to Apply For A US Student Visa-Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Become a Medical Doctor in Japan
In Japan, how long does it take to become a doctor?
Typically, it takes 6 years to complete medical school in Japan.
Basic science courses are taken in the first two years, applied medical courses in the second two years, and internship in the last two years.
In Japan, can foreigners practice medicine?
It is definitely possible to become a doctor in Japan if you’re a foreigner.
Doctors from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Singapore are currently practicing in Japanese hospitals.
Certain medical licenses issued by Japan are subject to bilateral agreements with those countries. This means that they can only see patients who are nationals of their own country. As previously said, they cannot treat Japanese patients without a Japanese medical license.
In Japan, How Do I Become a Doctor?
In Japan, there are actually two main paths to becoming a doctor.
One is to complete your medical education in Japan. The alternative is to complete your medical education elsewhere before sitting for a Japanese medical exam in that language.
Can an outsider pursue medical school in Japan?
Absolutely! A spot is available for international students to study medicine in Japan.
In fact, one of the world’s most welcoming nations for foreign travelers is Japan.
There is no exemption, thus international students who want to study medicine in Japanese medical schools can do so.
How Much Do Physicians Make in Japan?
A 2019 poll found that medical professionals working at Japanese hospitals affiliated with medical corporations in Japan earn an average of 16.4 million Japanese Yen annually.
Summary
Even for foreign students, it is possible to pursue a career as a medical doctor in Japan.
Whether or whether you attended Japanese medical schools, by following the processes we outlined above, becoming a doctor is made simple.
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