[Inheritance Support Consultant Certification Exam] Announcement of 2025 Results Overview and Examinee Demographics Survey Results
The Japan Property Management Association announced the results of the 2025 'Inheritance Support Consultant Certification Exam'. With 471 passing and a 77.3% pass rate, 88% of examinees cited a need for inheritance knowledge in their work.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 19:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 06:19 (90h 47m after Collected)
The Japan Property Management Association (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Chairman: Noriaki Shiomi, hereinafter: JPM) announced the results overview of the 2025 'Inheritance Support Consultant Certification Exam'.
The passing criteria score was set at 24 points for both the 1st and 2nd exams (40 questions in total, 1 point per question, perfect score of 40). As a result, the number of successful candidates was 471, and the pass rate among examinees was 77.3%.
* [Reference] 2024 passing criteria scores: 25 points for the 1st exam, 24 points for the 2nd exam.
Many 'Mid-career and Veteran' Real Estate Professionals Took the Exam
Furthermore, a questionnaire survey conducted among examinees revealed that the most common age group was people in their 40s at 36%, followed by those in their 50s at 28%, and those in their 30s at 21%.
The most common other qualifications currently held were 'Real Estate Transaction Agent' at 118, followed by 'Rental Real Estate Business Manager' at 107, and 'Rental Housing Maintenance Chief' at 61. The results show that the vast majority hold real estate-related qualifications, indicating that practitioners who already possess specialized knowledge are choosing this certification as a further step up.
Necessity in Business: 88% Answered 'Inheritance Knowledge is Necessary'
The main industries of the companies the examinees belong to were 'Rental Housing Management', which accounted for the majority at 62%, followed by 'Real Estate Sales' at 17%, and 'Rental Brokerage' at 14%, showing broad attention from various areas of the real estate industry.
Notably, to the question 'Are there situations in your current work where knowledge of inheritance is necessary?', 88% answered 'Yes'.
[Analysis: Why is 'Inheritance Support' Demanded of Real Estate Practitioners Now?]
As Japan enters a super-aging society and land prices continue to rise, inheritance is no longer a problem just for some wealthy people, but an urgent issue that is unavoidable for all households.
- The main player in inheritance assets is 'real estate'
Real estate accounts for a large portion of inheritance assets in Japan's personal wealth. Unlike cash, real estate is difficult to divide and complex to evaluate, making it the reality that it easily becomes the spark for 'inheritance disputes' (so-called 'struggling families').
- The reality of being 'pressed by necessity' as practitioners
Just as 88% of survey respondents stated they need inheritance knowledge in their business, it is expected that the worries brought by owners in the field are increasing. In the free comment section of the survey, there were comments regarding the need for inheritance support knowledge, such as 'If we don't become able to talk about common examples, it may become difficult to form a relationship of trust,' 'I think owners will feel more at ease relying on us if we hold a certification that guarantees inheritance knowledge,' and 'I think learning this will make conversations with tax accountants smoother.'
- Towards an era where inheritance support skills become 'standard equipment'
From the results of this survey, it can be said that an era has arrived in the real estate industry from now on where 'inheritance support skills' are required as standard equipment for professionals.
Becoming a 'Practical Weapon' to Connect Owners' Assets and Thoughts
This course, which is the only curriculum specialized in real estate inheritance, goes beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge; it becomes a 'practical weapon' for passing owners' assets and thoughts on to the next generation. Through skills enhancement support for practitioners, the Inheritance Support Consultant course will support the business of real estate owners and lead to a comfortable living experience for tenants.
[2026 Course and Exam Overview]
- Application acceptance period: Scheduled for April 21 to August 2026 (Accepted on the official website) https://www.jpm.jp/souzoku/
- Course implementation period: September 1, 2026 to January 21, 2027 (e-learning format)
- Exam schedule: [1st exam] November 19, 2026 (Thursday), [2nd exam] January 21, 2027 (Thursday)
* The exam is held twice a year. By passing either exam, you will be certified as an 'Inheritance Support Consultant'.
* If you fail or do not take the 1st exam, you can take the 2nd exam.
Schedule and Curriculum
https://www.jpmsouzoku.jp/schedulei.html
[Survey Overview]
- Implementation date: November 20, 2025 - January 22, 2026
The passing criteria score was set at 24 points for both the 1st and 2nd exams (40 questions in total, 1 point per question, perfect score of 40). As a result, the number of successful candidates was 471, and the pass rate among examinees was 77.3%.
* [Reference] 2024 passing criteria scores: 25 points for the 1st exam, 24 points for the 2nd exam.
Many 'Mid-career and Veteran' Real Estate Professionals Took the Exam
Furthermore, a questionnaire survey conducted among examinees revealed that the most common age group was people in their 40s at 36%, followed by those in their 50s at 28%, and those in their 30s at 21%.
The most common other qualifications currently held were 'Real Estate Transaction Agent' at 118, followed by 'Rental Real Estate Business Manager' at 107, and 'Rental Housing Maintenance Chief' at 61. The results show that the vast majority hold real estate-related qualifications, indicating that practitioners who already possess specialized knowledge are choosing this certification as a further step up.
Necessity in Business: 88% Answered 'Inheritance Knowledge is Necessary'
The main industries of the companies the examinees belong to were 'Rental Housing Management', which accounted for the majority at 62%, followed by 'Real Estate Sales' at 17%, and 'Rental Brokerage' at 14%, showing broad attention from various areas of the real estate industry.
Notably, to the question 'Are there situations in your current work where knowledge of inheritance is necessary?', 88% answered 'Yes'.
[Analysis: Why is 'Inheritance Support' Demanded of Real Estate Practitioners Now?]
As Japan enters a super-aging society and land prices continue to rise, inheritance is no longer a problem just for some wealthy people, but an urgent issue that is unavoidable for all households.
- The main player in inheritance assets is 'real estate'
Real estate accounts for a large portion of inheritance assets in Japan's personal wealth. Unlike cash, real estate is difficult to divide and complex to evaluate, making it the reality that it easily becomes the spark for 'inheritance disputes' (so-called 'struggling families').
- The reality of being 'pressed by necessity' as practitioners
Just as 88% of survey respondents stated they need inheritance knowledge in their business, it is expected that the worries brought by owners in the field are increasing. In the free comment section of the survey, there were comments regarding the need for inheritance support knowledge, such as 'If we don't become able to talk about common examples, it may become difficult to form a relationship of trust,' 'I think owners will feel more at ease relying on us if we hold a certification that guarantees inheritance knowledge,' and 'I think learning this will make conversations with tax accountants smoother.'
- Towards an era where inheritance support skills become 'standard equipment'
From the results of this survey, it can be said that an era has arrived in the real estate industry from now on where 'inheritance support skills' are required as standard equipment for professionals.
Becoming a 'Practical Weapon' to Connect Owners' Assets and Thoughts
This course, which is the only curriculum specialized in real estate inheritance, goes beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge; it becomes a 'practical weapon' for passing owners' assets and thoughts on to the next generation. Through skills enhancement support for practitioners, the Inheritance Support Consultant course will support the business of real estate owners and lead to a comfortable living experience for tenants.
[2026 Course and Exam Overview]
- Application acceptance period: Scheduled for April 21 to August 2026 (Accepted on the official website) https://www.jpm.jp/souzoku/
- Course implementation period: September 1, 2026 to January 21, 2027 (e-learning format)
- Exam schedule: [1st exam] November 19, 2026 (Thursday), [2nd exam] January 21, 2027 (Thursday)
* The exam is held twice a year. By passing either exam, you will be certified as an 'Inheritance Support Consultant'.
* If you fail or do not take the 1st exam, you can take the 2nd exam.
Schedule and Curriculum
https://www.jpmsouzoku.jp/schedulei.html
[Survey Overview]
- Implementation date: November 20, 2025 - January 22, 2026