Becoming an SMEC in Japan

(1) From Examination to Registration

To be qualified as an SMEC, you have to pass the examinations conducted by J-SMECA.
SMEC screening consists of three stages as below. Each examination is conducted once a year around August at 7 major cities, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.

1st Stage

• Written examination on seven(7) subjects as below (multiple choice test)
  Economics & Economic policy, Finance and Accounting, Corporate Management,
  Corporate Operations, Management Law, Management Information System, SME Management and Government Policy.

2ndStage

• Written examination about a case diagnosis and the advice thereon
• Oral presentation test

3rd Stage

Actual Diagnosis Practice at SMEs for 15 days or more

(2) Registration

Those who have passed above three stages of screening shall be registered with the Minister of METI for initial five(5) years with a mandatory renewal training every year.

(3) Renewal of Registration

There are two requirements for renewal to be completed within registered 5 years, one is to take renewal training more than 5 times, the other is to undergo practice diagnosis for more than 30 days.