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Japan Federation of Certified Management Consultants' Associations (JF-CMCA), the testing body designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (the legal basis is Article 12 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Support Act; the implementation rules are published by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency)

Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi Examination (Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant; First Examination and Second Examination)

The Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi examination is a national examination held under Article 12 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Support Act. It is administered by the Japan Federation of Certified Management Consultants' Associations, the body designated for the purpose by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. There are no restrictions on age, gender or educational background. The First Examination covers seven subjects, from economics and economic policy through to SME management and SME policy, and is sat over two days as a written multiple-choice paper. The Second Examination is a written paper on four case studies concerning the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises. For both stages the pass standard is 60% or more of the total marks, with no single subject below 40% of the marks available for it. From FY2026 the oral examination that used to follow the Second Examination has been abolished, and the examination fees have been revised. Passing the Second Examination and becoming a Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi are separate steps: registration follows a prescribed procedure of its own.

Official page

Who takes it

  • People in corporate planning or business development roles who deal with both finance and strategy
  • People at financial institutions who assess the viability of a client's business and support its management
  • Owners and successors of small and medium enterprises who want to look at their own company's management in an organised way
  • People preparing to consult independently or as a side business who want a public qualification as the foundation
  • Professionals and staff at support organisations working with small and medium enterprises who want official backing for that work

What it lets you do

  • It is a national examination under Article 12 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Support Act. After passing the Second Examination and completing the prescribed registration procedure, a person becomes a Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi.
  • The seven First Examination subjects span economics, finance and accounting, business management theory, operations management, business law, management information systems, and SME management and policy, so the breadth of management knowledge required is defined by the state.
  • There is a subject-pass system: subjects already passed can be exempted on application (for FY2026, subject passes from FY2024 and FY2025 are eligible), so the examination can be planned across several years.
  • The Second Examination is case-based and written, so it tests not only whether the knowledge is there but the ability to put it into words as a diagnosis and a recommendation.
  • There are no restrictions on age, gender or educational background, so anyone may sit the examination.

The exam

As published by Japan Federation of Certified Management Consultants' Associations (JF-CMCA), the testing body designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (the legal basis is Article 12 of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Support Act; the implementation rules are published by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency). Anything we could not confirm is left out. Check the official page before you apply.

Questions
First Examination: 7 subjects (multiple choice) / Second Examination: 4 case studies (written)
Time
The First Examination runs over two days for 510 minutes in total (economics and economic policy 60 minutes, finance and accounting 60 minutes, business management theory 90 minutes, operations management 90 minutes / business law 60 minutes, management information systems 60 minutes, SME management and SME policy 90 minutes). The Second Examination is Cases I to IV at 80 minutes each, 320 minutes in total.
Pass mark
First Examination: 60% or more of the total marks, with no single subject below 40% of the marks available for it. Second Examination: 60% or more of the total marks in the written examination, with no single subject below 40% of the marks available for it (the oral examination was abolished from FY2026).
Fee
First Examination JPY 17,200 (tax exempt) plus an online payment handling charge of JPY 590 (tax included); Second Examination JPY 15,100 (tax exempt) plus a charge of JPY 525 (tax included). These are the revised FY2026 amounts.
Format
The First Examination is a written multiple-choice paper. The Second Examination is written, in short-answer or essay form, on case studies concerning the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises.
Languages
Japanese
When it runs
In FY2026 the First Examination is on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August 2026, with applications from 23 April to 27 May 2026 and results on Tuesday 1 September 2026. The Second Examination is on Sunday 25 October 2026, with applications from 1 to 18 September 2026 and results on Wednesday 13 January 2027. The First Examination is held in ten areas (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Osaka, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Fukuoka and Naha) and the Second in seven (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka).
Validity and renewal
A pass itself has no expiry, but a First Examination pass is effective for two years, the year of the pass and the following year, as the basis for sitting the Second Examination. An exemption from a subject pass can be applied for across three years including the year of the pass. A registered Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi holds a registration valid for five years, and renewal requires both 'supplementing specialist knowledge' five or more times in total (for example by completing theory and policy update training) and 30 or more days of practical work in total.

How hard it is

For the FY2026 First Examination there were 25,512 applicants, 17,829 candidates who sat every subject and 4,099 passes, a pass rate of 23.0%. In FY2025 the First Examination had 18,360 candidates and 4,344 passes (23.7%) and the Second Examination 7,044 candidates and 1,240 passes (17.6%) (all figures published by the administering body). Because both stages have to be cleared, the rate of getting through in a single year is low.

How long people study

Not published by the exam body. Neither the administering body nor the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency states an expected study time. Preparatory schools commonly cite a rough figure of around 1,000 hours, but that is not a published figure.

Syllabus

  • First Examination A: Economics and economic policy60 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination B: Finance and accounting60 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination C: Business management theory90 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination D: Operations management90 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination E: Business law60 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination F: Management information systems60 minutes, 100 points
  • First Examination G: SME management and SME policy90 minutes, 100 points
  • Second Examination A: Case I on the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises80 minutes, 100 points
  • Second Examination B: Case II on the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises80 minutes, 100 points
  • Second Examination C: Case III on the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises80 minutes, 100 points
  • Second Examination D: Case IV on the diagnosis of, and advice to, small and medium enterprises80 minutes, 100 points

Our apps and books for this exam

  • Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi Ichiji Shiken (7 Kamoku) Taisaku

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    Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi (Registered Management Consultant) first-stage exam, all seven subjects

    This app's interface and questions are in Japanese.

    Download on the App Store

  • Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi Keiei Homu Shiken Taisaku

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    Business law subject of the Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi (Registered Management Consultant) exam

    This app's interface and questions are in Japanese.

    Download on the App Store

Questions people ask

What changed in FY2026?
Two things. The oral examination in the Second Examination was abolished, so the Second Examination is now written only. And the fees were revised: the First Examination from JPY 14,500 to JPY 17,200 and the Second Examination from JPY 17,800 to JPY 15,100 (the combined total of JPY 32,300 is the same before and after). The basis is the partial amendment of the regulation on the registration and examination of Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi, promulgated on 25 June 2025 and in force from 1 April 2026.
Once I pass the First Examination, by when must I sit the Second?
Within two sittings: the year of the pass and the following year. The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency notice likewise states that those eligible for the FY2026 Second Examination are people who passed the First Examination in FY2025 or FY2026 (there are exceptions, for example people who passed the First Examination in or before FY2000).
Do I have to pass all seven subjects in one year?
No, because there is a subject-pass system. Anyone who passed some First Examination subjects in FY2024 or FY2025 can apply for exemption from those subjects. There is also an exemption system for people who have passed certain other national examinations.
Is 60% of the total marks enough to pass?
Not on its own. For both the First and the Second Examination the standard is 60% or more of the total marks with no single subject below 40% of the marks available for it. Falling below 40% in even one subject is a fail whatever the total.
Do I become a Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi as soon as I pass the Second Examination?
Passing the examination and registering are separate procedures. After registration, the registration is valid for five years, and renewing it within that period requires both 'supplementing specialist knowledge' five or more times in total (for example by completing theory and policy update training) and 30 or more days of practical work in total. One without the other is not enough.

Sources

These are the pages the figures came from. Some are published in Japanese only, and are marked as such — we keep the original titles rather than translating them, so you can match what you find on the official site. Exam rules change; check the official page before you apply.

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