SSW Building Cleaning Japanese Requirements

SSW(i) building cleaning requires JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4+, plus the Building Cleaning Management Field SSW(i) Evaluation Test unless exempt. JFT-Basic A2.2 begins at 200/250.

Current JBMA test material states that the written component has 20 questions, takes 20 minutes and requires 60 percent or more. Practical skill is assessed separately under the official program.

Key takeaways

• SSW(i) accepts JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4+.
• The building-cleaning evaluation is separate.
• Current written test: 20 questions, 20 minutes, 60%+.
• Practical cleaning skill also matters.
• Relevant Technical Intern Training can create exemptions.
• Work covers interior cleaning of buildings, not every domestic cleaning activity.
• SSW(ii) requires advanced test/Skill Test Level 1 and supervisor experience.
• Passing tests does not guarantee status.

In this guide: SSW(i) · tests · skills · exemptions · SSW(ii) · work language · application · research

SSW(i) building-cleaning language requirement

The Immigration Services Agency field page names:

• JFT-Basic; or
• JLPT N4 or higher.

The skills requirement is the Building Cleaning Management Field SSW(i) Evaluation Test.

The official field description is interior building cleaning. Do not assume private-home domestic work or unrelated outdoor work belongs to this route.

Read specified skilled worker Japanese requirements and Japanese level required to work in Japan.

Accepted Japanese tests

JFT-Basic A2.2

A2.2 begins at 200/250. Lower A1 and A2.1 bands do not meet the current SSW(i) level.

Use JFT-Basic passing scores, registration, and results.

JLPT N4 or higher

JLPT N4-N1 passes can satisfy the named test condition. N4 requires its overall and sectional marks.

Use the JLPT N4 guide, N3 guide, and JLPT score report guide.

Other certificates

Do not substitute NAT-TEST, J.TEST or an employer's internal test without explicit official acceptance.

Building-cleaning evaluation test

The Japan Building Maintenance Association administers the field test under the official program.

Current English test material states:

• Written test: 20 questions.
• Written duration: 20 minutes.
• Written pass mark: 60 percent or more.
• Practical assessment: separate cleaning skills evaluation.
• Test language: Japanese.

Candidates should recheck the current guide for practical format, total process, booking and result notification.

Study topics include:

• Cleaning methods by surface.
• Tools and machinery.
• Chemical selection and dilution.
• Safety and protective equipment.
• Work sequence and quality.
• Infection/contamination control where applicable.

The Japanese exam and skills evaluation are separate requirements.

Technical Intern Training exemptions

The SSW(i) field page states:

• Successful relevant Technical Intern Training (ii) can exempt the skills test.
• Successful Technical Intern Training (ii) in any job category can exempt the general Japanese test.

Verify successful completion, occupation and evaluation records. Cleaning experience outside the official program does not automatically create exemption.

SSW(ii) building cleaning

The current SSW(ii) page names:

• Building Cleaning Management Field SSW(ii) Evaluation Test or Skill Test Level 1.
• Practical experience supervising multiple workers and managing the workplace in qualifying building-cleaning operations.

MHLW guidance describes at least two years of practical experience in worker guidance and on-site management for progression under the stated pathway.

No separate Japanese-language examination is listed for SSW(ii). Supervisors still need strong language for training, chemical safety, inspections, incidents and customer coordination.

Practical cleaning Japanese

Task and area

• Room, floor, corridor, restroom and shared area.
• Surface and material.
• Start/finish time.
• Restricted or occupied space.

Chemical and equipment

• Product name and hazard.
• Dilution and amount.
• Ventilation and protective equipment.
• Machine setup and shutdown.

Quality

• Stain, dust, residue and damage.
• Inspection and rework.
• Lost property.
• Customer or facility request.

Safety

• Wet-floor signs.
• Electrical risk.
• Chemical mixing prohibition.
• Sharp objects and biological waste.
• Injury and spill reporting.

Use Japanese conversation at work, Japanese customer-service phrases, and Japanese phone-call phrases.

Is N4 enough in practice?

N4/A2.2 is the route test floor. Strong N4 can support predictable supervised work. N3 creates more margin for:

• Changed room assignments.
• Detailed chemical instructions.
• Reporting property damage.
• Communicating with building staff.
• Reading inspection notes.

N2 helps supervisors write reports, train staff and communicate with clients. These are practical recommendations, not additional legal thresholds.

Test and record planning

Plan language and field tests separately. Confirm dates, fees, identity requirements and result timing.

Keep consistent:

• Legal name.
• Birth date.
• Passport or accepted ID.
• Test field and level.
• Employer records.

Do not edit result documents. Use official correction routes.

Practical-test preparation by cleaning method

Do not memorize one generic sequence for every surface. Practice identifying the area, material, type of soil, approved chemical, tool, direction of work, finishing standard and final inspection.

Dry and wet floor care

Confirm warning signs, furniture movement, dust removal, solution amount, machine or mop path, edge work, drying and reopening. Prevent people from entering a wet or machine-operating area.

Restrooms and high-contact surfaces

Separate tools by area, follow dilution and contact-time instructions, use protective equipment and prevent cross-contamination. Report damaged fixtures, sharps or biological contamination rather than handling an unknown hazard casually.

Carpets, glass and fixtures

Use the method approved for the material. Practice explaining stains, scratches, breakage and areas that could not be completed. Never mix chemicals or improvise on a valuable surface.

Final inspection

Check corners, residue, streaks, odor, signs, equipment and lost property. Report what was cleaned, what remains and what requires supervisor or client approval.

Workers moving between cleaning and production environments can review the factory-job Japanese guide, but must follow the building-cleaning test and employer procedures for this field.

Client communication and lost property

Cleaners may work while occupants or guests are present. Practice asking permission to enter, explaining temporary closure, giving a realistic completion time and escalating a complaint. For lost property, do not inspect or keep the item. Record the location and time and follow the facility handover process. Protect room numbers, names, access codes and security information.

After passing

1. Find an eligible building-cleaning employer.
2. Confirm the work is within field scope.
3. Pass the interview and practical discussion.
4. Review written wage, sites, shifts and duties.
5. Gather language and skills evidence.
6. Prepare applicant and company documents.
7. Apply for Certificate of Eligibility or status change.

The employer or support organization should explain the support plan in a language the worker understands.

Contract and site checks

Cleaning workers can move among client buildings. Confirm:

• Main and secondary sites.
• Travel time and transport payment.
• Early/late/night shifts.
• Base wage and overtime.
• Uniform and protective equipment.
• Chemical/training costs.
• Housing and deductions.
• Lost-property and incident procedures.

Do not sign a contract that hides deductions or asks the worker to buy unsafe unapproved chemicals.

Preparation plan

General Japanese

• JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4 official material.

Cleaning skills

• JBMA official text and practical sequence.
• Surface/tool/chemical vocabulary.
• 30-minute daily Japanese routine.

Safety communication

• Hazard, prohibition and reporting.
• Japanese shadowing practice.

Interview and scenario

• Experience and quality check.
• Spill, damage or lost property.

Use Japanese job-interview self-introduction.

Start a free building-cleaning role-play and practice reporting property damage.

Try another free Japanese session with a chemical-safety and room-change scenario.

Common mistakes

Practice Japanese speaking free before employer interviews.

Final SSW building-cleaning checklist

• Pass JFT-Basic A2.2 or JLPT N4+, unless exempt.
• Pass the SSW(i) cleaning test, unless exempt.
• Prepare written and practical components.
• Verify Technical Intern Training evidence.
• Confirm eligible building scope and sites.
• Learn chemical and safety Japanese.
• Review contract, travel and deductions.
• Keep official result records consistent.
• Understand the SSW(ii) supervisor route separately.
• Never assume tests guarantee status.

How we researched

We checked the Immigration Services Agency SSW(i) and SSW(ii) building-cleaning pages, MHLW field guidance, JBMA test information and current SSW process material on 22 October 2026.

Legal test requirements are separated from practical N3/N2 workplace recommendations.

Sources

• ISA: SSW(i) building cleaning
• ISA: SSW(ii) building cleaning
• MHLW building-cleaning SSW information
• JBMA test program guide
• ISA: SSW process

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