What is a Class 2 Hygiene Manager? A brief explanation from exam to appointment

A "health and safety manager" is an essential member of the health and safety committee. This time, based on my own experience of actually obtaining the Class 2 Health and Safety Manager qualification , I will clearly explain the process from applying for the exam to being appointed after passing !

What is a hygiene manager?

A "Health and Safety Manager" isa professional qualified to protect workplace health and safety.
Businesses with 50 or more employees are legally required to appoint one.

Actually, there are two types of hygiene managers: Type 1 and Type 2. • Type 1 Hygiene Manager : A higher qualification that allows you to work in all types of industries (including workplaces handling hazardous substances). • Type 2 Hygiene Manager : A qualification required in general industries (office, food service, retail, IT, etc.) excluding hazardous work.

The first-class license covers a wider range of topics, so the exam is slightly more difficult.
However, for "ordinary workplaces" such as office jobs or service industries,the second-class license is perfectly adequate.

If your priority is to appoint a hygiene manager as soon as possible, or if your workplace is mainly administrative and a Class 2 certification is sufficient
,we recommend obtaining a Class 2 Hygiene Manager certification.

Qualification acquisition procedure

To become a hygiene manager, you must pass the national "Hygiene Manager Examination."

Exam application

Applications for the examof the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Technology Examination Associationthe official website.

The hygiene manager exam uses an "online + mail" system . First, you fill out the application form online, then print it out and submit it by mail!

The exam is held at "Safety and Health Technology Centers" located throughout Japan . In the Kansai region, you can choose between the "Osaka Test Center" or the "Kinki Safety and Health Technology Center (Hyogo)." (I took the exam at the Osaka Test Center!)

The official website provides a list of exam schedules for each venue, so
it's recommended to choose a date that suits your convenience!

After applying,receive an exam ticket, so be sure to keep it safe and don't lose it.

On the day of the exam

The exam is in a multiple-choice format and covers the following three subjects: • Occupational Health (excluding hazardous work) • Relevant Laws and Regulations • Occupational Physiology. The exam duration is 2 hours, and the passing criteria are 40% or higher in each subject and 60% or higher overall . ( Calculators are permitted during the exam .)

The Osaka test center was surprisingly far from the nearest station, so I recommend leaving with plenty of time to spare.
I arrived just before the test started, which gave me a bit of a scare!

The exam is two hours long, butyou can leave after one hour if you have finished answering and reviewing your answers.
When I took the exam, about half of the test-takers left after about an hour.

By the way, I used these textbooks to study! "
Clearly Understandable Second-Class Occupational Health Manager Textbook & Practice Questions 2025 Edition [Even Beginners Can Pass on Their First Try]" and "
U-CAN's Second-Class Occupational Health Manager Important Past Questions & Practice Exams 2026 Edition [Contains the equivalent of 9 Exams]"

Announcement of results

The results of the exam can be checked on the official website of the Safety and Health Technology Center where you took the exam, and a "License Exam Pass Notification" will be sent by mail at a later date . *Those who did not pass will receive a "License Exam Result Notification."

Please be careful not to throw away your passing certificate, as it is necessary for issuing your license ! * A "license" is required to be appointed as a hygiene manager .

The process from passing the exam to being appointed

Passing the exam alone does not qualify you to be appointed as a hygiene manager.
You mustapply for a license (license registration)!

License issuance

To appoint someone as the hygiene manager at your workplace,
need a copy of their license, so please be sure to obtain one.

Simply fill out the application form on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website , attach a passport-sized photo and revenue stamps, and submit it to the "Tokyo Labour Bureau License Issuance Center," which is the nationwide application destination ! *You cannot submit it in person, so please send it by registered mail

Other required documents are listed below:
• Driver's license exam pass notification (original)
• Proof of identity (such as resident registration certificate or driver's license)
• Self-addressed stamped envelope (don't forget the stamps!)
*The stampsboth regular postage and registered mail fees.

After submitting the documents, you will usually receive your hygiene manager license in about 1-2 weeks.
Depending on when you apply, it may take longer to receive it;
mine arrived about a month later.

Appointment Procedures

Once you receive your license, you will be able to make an appointment

After the appointment, you will need to prepare and submit a "Report on Appointment of Health and Safety Manager" to the relevant Labor Standards Inspection Office, and once it is accepted, the process is complete!

Since you need to submit it within 14 days of your appointment , be sure to submit the notification as soon as you receive your license.

Submissions can also be made electronically online.
Input support service for printing forms related to notifications and applications under the Industrial Safety and Health Act.

summary

In this article, I 've put together a brief overview of the Class 2 Health and Safety Manager examination, which I actually took , from the application process to the flow of the exam day, and the license application and appointment procedures after passing

It might seem like it requires specialized knowledge and you might feel a little intimidated, but in reality, much of the content can be understood as an extension of your daily work, so I felt that it's a qualification that people working in administrative or management positions can easily take on

Since there are procedures such as license application after passing the exam,
it's recommended to allow some extra time in your schedule.
I hope this is helpful for those considering taking the exam!