How to become 助産師education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter
Average annual pay
¥5.67M
≈ $36,038
Top pay (est.)
¥9.77M
Top 10% ¥8.40M
Pay in 5 years
¥6.44Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥7.31Mest.
¥6.28M–¥8.48M
Outlook score
63/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
8%
Very low
Labor demand
Average
Openings-to-applicants 2.04x
How to become 助産師
The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.
Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
助産師になるには助産師国家試験に合格する必要がある。この試験の受験資格は看護師国家試験に合格していることが前提となるため、看護師国家試験合格に向け、高校卒業後、看護系大学、短大又は専門学校にて3～4年専門教育を修めたのち、試験に臨む。試験合格後、看護系大学にて助産師選択課程を選択した者は助産師国家試験の受験資格を得る。この他の選択をした者は、看護系大学院で2年間又は、看護大学専攻科・別科、看護短期大学専攻科、助産師養成所のいずれかで1年間の専門教育を修めたのち、助産師国家試験の受験資格を得る。いずれの過程においても助産師国家試験に合格後、助産師となることができる。
現在は職業・資格・試験の名称が「助産婦」から「助産師」に変わっているものの、助産師試験の受験資格は女性に限られている。
出産時の母子の生命の安全を確保するために、関連の専門知識・技術に加えて、適切な判断力と敏速な対応能力が求められる。
現在は職業・資格・試験の名称が「助産婦」から「助産師」に変わっているものの、助産師試験の受験資格は女性に限られている。
出産時の母子の生命の安全を確保するために、関連の専門知識・技術に加えて、適切な判断力と敏速な対応能力が求められる。
Skills, education and requirements for 助産師
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsAssisting and Caring for OthersGetting InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsUpdating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Important abilities
Problem SensitivityOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionWritten ExpressionWritten ComprehensionTime Sharing
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- 助産師
- 看護師 National license
Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Difficulty of entry: ★★★★☆ Demanding (from education, training, experience, licenses)
Career path and how to earn more as 助産師
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.
Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.