Japan Financial Education Support Organization to Launch 'Practical Financial Skill Certification' on June 15, 2026
The Japan Financial Education Support Organization will launch the 'Practical Financial Skill Certification' on June 15, 2026, to evaluate the understanding of financial skills applicable in real life. Aimed at high school students to young professionals, it utilizes CBT and PBT methods to firmly establish practical financial abilities.
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The Japan Financial Education Support Organization (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Co-Representative Directors: Risa Hirai, Nana Abe) will launch a practical financial education exam, the 'Practical Financial Skill Certification', starting June 15, 2026.
This certification aims to systematically teach the '8 forces of money'—spending, earning, paying taxes, saving, preparing, giving, borrowing, and increasing—and objectively measure the understanding of financial skills that can be utilized in real life. The primary target audience includes high school students, university students, new working adults, and those who wish to prepare for future financial choices or relearn financial education from the basics. The examination method is primarily Computer-Based Testing (CBT), available at test centers nationwide, with Paper-Based Testing (PBT) planned for groups of 50 or more examinees.
Since financial education became compulsory in high school home economics classes in FY2022, opportunities for younger generations to learn about money have significantly expanded. Concurrently, the spread of cashless payments, growing interest in investments, and the lowering of the age of majority have increased the situations where youth must make financial decisions. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to ensure that financial terminology and systems are not merely learned as 'knowledge' but firmly established as 'skills' that enable comparison, judgment, and action in real-life scenarios.
The design of the exam and official textbook involved collaboration among experts in business, education, and academia. Certified instructors from the Organization with practical financial education experience, such as Yoshika Nagao (1st Grade Financial Planner, etc.) and Mariko Yagi (CMA, AFP, etc.), handled the writing. Furthermore, active teaching professionals like Yuto Mizuno (Head Civics Teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Bunkyo High School) and Takahiro Shimizu (Home Economics Teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Tagara High School) supervised the content from the perspective of its alignment with curriculum guidelines and comprehensibility for students. Incorporating perspectives from financial education research at the University of Tsukuba's graduate school, the exam is designed to evaluate financial skills as a multifaceted ability grounded in actual living conditions.
The exam takes 50 minutes, with a passing score of 70 out of 100 points, and an examination fee of 3,980 yen (tax included). The legal reference date is based on laws and regulations in effect as of April 1, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Upon completing the application, examinees receive a URL to view the digital version of the official textbook.
The certification is also linked with the '4th FES Contest®', a nationwide financial education video contest hosted by the Organization and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Certification holders are expected to receive additional points during the contest evaluation. The official text helps students learn the contest's theme, the '8 forces of money', practically, serving as an idea source for video production. Additionally, university students who pass the exam will have opportunities to serve as 'University Student Supporter Instructors'.
The Organization also plans to hold on-site classes for schools, educational institutions, and companies, deploying programs that can be combined with inquiry-based learning and new employee training. The Organization aims to broadly expand opportunities for people to acquire the financial literacy required in the modern era as 'skills' applicable to daily life and future decision-making.
This certification aims to systematically teach the '8 forces of money'—spending, earning, paying taxes, saving, preparing, giving, borrowing, and increasing—and objectively measure the understanding of financial skills that can be utilized in real life. The primary target audience includes high school students, university students, new working adults, and those who wish to prepare for future financial choices or relearn financial education from the basics. The examination method is primarily Computer-Based Testing (CBT), available at test centers nationwide, with Paper-Based Testing (PBT) planned for groups of 50 or more examinees.
Since financial education became compulsory in high school home economics classes in FY2022, opportunities for younger generations to learn about money have significantly expanded. Concurrently, the spread of cashless payments, growing interest in investments, and the lowering of the age of majority have increased the situations where youth must make financial decisions. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to ensure that financial terminology and systems are not merely learned as 'knowledge' but firmly established as 'skills' that enable comparison, judgment, and action in real-life scenarios.
The design of the exam and official textbook involved collaboration among experts in business, education, and academia. Certified instructors from the Organization with practical financial education experience, such as Yoshika Nagao (1st Grade Financial Planner, etc.) and Mariko Yagi (CMA, AFP, etc.), handled the writing. Furthermore, active teaching professionals like Yuto Mizuno (Head Civics Teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Bunkyo High School) and Takahiro Shimizu (Home Economics Teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Tagara High School) supervised the content from the perspective of its alignment with curriculum guidelines and comprehensibility for students. Incorporating perspectives from financial education research at the University of Tsukuba's graduate school, the exam is designed to evaluate financial skills as a multifaceted ability grounded in actual living conditions.
The exam takes 50 minutes, with a passing score of 70 out of 100 points, and an examination fee of 3,980 yen (tax included). The legal reference date is based on laws and regulations in effect as of April 1, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Upon completing the application, examinees receive a URL to view the digital version of the official textbook.
The certification is also linked with the '4th FES Contest®', a nationwide financial education video contest hosted by the Organization and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Certification holders are expected to receive additional points during the contest evaluation. The official text helps students learn the contest's theme, the '8 forces of money', practically, serving as an idea source for video production. Additionally, university students who pass the exam will have opportunities to serve as 'University Student Supporter Instructors'.
The Organization also plans to hold on-site classes for schools, educational institutions, and companies, deploying programs that can be combined with inquiry-based learning and new employee training. The Organization aims to broadly expand opportunities for people to acquire the financial literacy required in the modern era as 'skills' applicable to daily life and future decision-making.
FAQ
When does the Practical Financial Skill Certification start?
It is scheduled to start on June 15, 2026.
How much is the examination fee?
The examination fee is 3,980 yen (tax included).
Where can I take the exam?
You can take it at test centers nationwide (CBT format) or via group testing for 50 or more people (PBT format).