How to apply and take the Airmen Competence Certification Academic Examination (tips included!)
What is the academic exam?
Airmen Competence Certification Academic Examination
航空従事者技能証明学科試験, or Koku Jujisha Gino Shomei Gakka Shiken, is a written exam you must pass to obtain your JCAB pilot license. Since November 2023, aviation personnel knowledge exams have switched to Computer-Based Testing (CBT). Instead of fixed dates at limited locations, you can take the exam at any time, as long as you have a valid license.
The exam covers 5 categories:
Air Navigation (空中航法, or Kuchu Koho)
Knowledge required to determine the aircraft's position and ensure safe flight to the destination. Also known as 航法 (Koho) for short.
Meteorology (気象, or Kisho)
Knowledge about weather phenomena that affect flight operations and how to interpret weather charts.
Communication (無線通信, or Musen Tsushin)
Knowledge of aviation radio communication rules, procedures, and how to communicate with ground stations.
Aeronautical Engineering (航空工学, or Koku Kogaku)
Knowledge of aircraft mechanisms, including structures, engines, and electrical systems.
Aviation Law (法規, or Hoki)
Knowledge of aviation laws, regulations, and legal requirements governing flight operations in Japan.
If you hold an ICAO license, you only need to pass the aviation law exam. The other subjects are not required.
Applying for the exam
The official JCAB website provides a general application flow for the exam.
01
Purchase and complete the No. 19 Application form
Before applying for the exam, we recommend purchasing Form No. 19, which is the request form for the academic exam. This package includes everything you need to complete the form, including an instruction manual, since it requires specific formatting. If you're unsure about your completed form, contact JCAB by phone. When we did this, they provided an email address for form review via email. After completing the form, send it to either the Osaka or Tokyo JCAB office.
02
Apply for the CBT exam
Use this link to reserve a CBT exam slot. The exam is available in English or Japanese, but we highly recommend taking it in English if your Japanese proficiency is limited.
03
Wait for confirmation from JCAB
Once JCAB approves your Form 19 application, you'll receive a confirmation letter by mail.
04
Take the exam
Bring all necessary documents and arrive on time for your exam.
Tips for passing the exam
Here are some strategies for exam success:
Study past exams thoroughly
Review past exams available here. Under ３．学科試験過去問題・解答, if you're only taking Aviation Law, look for PDFs named "Civil Aeronautics Law (A・P)" or "Civil Aeronautics Law (C.P)".
These are English-language past exams for Commercial and Private Pilots flying airplanes. Many questions are similar to those you'll encounter on the actual exam, so study them until you can remember the answers reliably.