A Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Certificate is a very important document. It certifies your Japanese proficiency level and is only issued once by governing authorities; it is impossible to replace. However, should it become lost, you can take steps to get an equivalent certification that helps prove your proficiency in the Japanese language to employers and higher-level education institutions.
What can you do if you lose your JLPT certificate? It is impossible to obtain a replacement for your original Certification of Japanese Language Proficiency. However, you can apply to receive a copy of your JLPT Certificate of Results and Scores at any time for a fee.
Sometimes it’s inevitable that we lose important things. However, if you lost your JLPT certificate, the remainder of this article can help you find ways to obtain a similar certificate that will still help when you are applying for a job or trying to be admitted to a university.
What Is the JLPT Certificate?
A JLPT Certificate is a document that shows proof of Japanese proficiency and allows you access to higher education or employment in Japan. It includes results from the JLPT that verifies your proficiency in each section tested (vocabulary, grammar, etc.) as well as your overall score. The certificate can help educational institutions and employers know how best to place you in their organizations.
But that’s not the only reason receiving a JLPT Certificate is important. Studying for the JLPT is rigorous, and less than 40% of those who took the exam in 2019 passed; it’s not easy. The test also costs at least $1,200 in some locations and sometimes more based on currency exchange. The test is usually scheduled only once per year.
In other words, it’s a significant undertaking, and obtaining a certificate of proficiency should be treated with high regard.
Who Issues the JLPT Certificate?
The Japanese Educational Exchanges and Service (JEES) is the governing authority for the certification process and handle all requests regarding the JLPT. This organization is responsible for issuing JLPT Certificates, and once they award it to an individual, they will not reissue it.
Why? The JLPT is an international test, meaning it is offered around the world every year since it’s standardized; this means that hundreds to thousands of people attempt the test yearly. Because of this, it would not be feasible for an organization such as JEES to keep track of everyone’s passing scores to issue replacement certificates. In addition, while scores are available for the test taker to view online after the test, they cannot be downloaded or printed; all results—and the JLPT Certificate—are physically mailed.
Is There Another Way to Obtain JLPT Results?
There is an alternative certificate that can be obtained if you lose the original JLPT Certificate: the Certification of Results and Scores. As the name suggests, this certificate simply outlines your results and scores for the exam. It does not include information about your language proficiency. The data provided on the Certification of Results and Scores is the minimum employers and educational institutions need to place you in the correct role for their organizations.
Certification of Results vs. JLPT Certificate
The JLPT Certificate is like a diploma that benefits your prospects in Japan. Without it, you will not be able to prove your certified level of proficiency outside of a personal interview with universities and employers. Nearly all Japanese universities require a JLPT Certificate upon entry.
The Certificate of Results, on the other hand, allows potential organizations, employers, and universities to verify your certification without all the details of your results per section and scoring. Unlike the JLPT Certificate, it can be replaced when needed upon request. When the original JLPT Certificate is not available, the Certification of Results is the best alternative for entry into a job or learning path.
How to Get a Certification of Results
Before you can get your Certification of Results back from JEES, you need to apply for membership. The membership cost is based on the kind of membership you pick, depending on your preferences. The price will be adjusted according to your chosen role. Where you are from will also affect the type of memberships available and their respective prices. To learn more, visit the official JLPT website.
You must have a membership with JEES to receive a copy of your Certification of Results. If not, you will not be able to access that information.
Applying by Mail
You can also apply for a Certification of Results by mail by contacting the local JEES office in your region. You will need to send information that verifies you took the JLPT, including the testing location, date and time, and copies of personal identification that verifies you as the test taker. You will also need to provide an accurate mailing address where you can be reached. Usually, it can take up to a month for JEES to process your application and send your Certification of Results in the mail.
The steps for applying by mail are as follows:
- Send the following items to the JLPT Application Center:
- A written statement of the year you initially took the test with a photocopy of your passport. The passport’s photocopy should display your full name and birthday.
- A completed request form. Alternatively, you can send a memo that includes your mailing address, phone number, and the number of result certificates you need.
- Issuance fee in the form of a postal money order. For residents of Japan, this fee is 1,000 yen per copy. Overseas residents must submit a fee of 1,000 yen per copy plus an additional 1,000 yen for EMS.
For more information about the mail-in application process and how money orders should be sent, visit the JLPT website.
Applying Online
You may also view your results online following an exam; however, you will not be able to download a digital copy. As previously mentioned, all JLPT test results are physically mailed along with any issued certificates.
To apply for a Certificate of Results online, follow these steps:
- Login to the JLPT website using the MyJLPT ID initially used to apply for your test. Follow the prompts to apply for a Certificate for Results and Scores.
- If you applied for the test with block registration, you would need to contact the group representative and request that they apply for the certificate on your behalf. Note that they will only have access to testing results from up to the past ten JLPTs taken. If you have taken more than ten and require the scores from an older test, you will need to apply for a certificate by mail.
*Note: If you currently live in Japan, you may apply according to the region you tested in. If you tested from abroad and did not live in Japan, you will need to apply based on the country and region—and in some cases, even the local office where you presumably took the proficiency exam. Please allow time for the office to respond to your application.
Conclusion
The initial JLPT Certificate is one of a kind—a diploma of sorts. It is impossible to replace once it is sent. Usually, this small postcard displays your certification at whatever level you tested (N1-N5), and the results and scores are included. If you lose it, you will need to get a Certification of Results and Scores, which can be obtained by applying through your membership to Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.