#Japan #Tokyo #How Pro #Engineer Certification #Skill Validation

A New Infrastructure for Skill Validation in Blue-Collar Work

The world is witnessing a significant shift as we confront a shortage of skilled craftsmen. In response to this pressing challenge, How Pro Academy, managed by Shigotojin Co., Ltd. in central Tokyo, is set to launch a new initiative called the "Home Engineer Certification System" on May 8, 2026. This system aims to objectively assess and demonstrate the essential skills involved in various home services, including air conditioner cleaning, house cleaning, washing machine maintenance, interior work, and appliance repairs.

The certification system is designed to transform the often invisible skills of blue-collar workers into certified evidence through recognized identification cards, image data, and promotional banners. Skilled technicians who pass a rigorous curriculum, achieving over 90% on a written test along with practical and customer service evaluations, will receive a unique registered certification card.

This initiative not only serves as a portfolio for technicians to showcase their competencies but also provides customers with peace of mind, allowing them to verify the expertise of service providers before hiring them. By fostering this certification process, How Pro aims to establish an industry where skilled craftsmen are chosen based on their technical abilities and trust rather than solely on price.

Why Skill Validation is Important Now

The construction and home service sectors are currently grappling with labor shortages and issues surrounding skill transfer. According to the 2025 White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, a staggering 36.7% of construction workers will be over 55 years old by 2024, while only 11.7% will be under 29. This aging workforce indicates a critical need for effective skill development and communication in the field.

Moreover, there exists an inherent challenge for customers: evaluating the skill level of technicians before hiring them. Unlike white-collar positions where resumes and qualifications offer clear insights into capabilities, the skills of blue-collar workers—especially in cleaning, repair, and interiors—are often difficult to assess. Customers typically find it easier to compare prices rather than assess the true skill set of a technician.

To address this issue, How Pro has curated a certification system that not only acknowledges training completion but also validates knowledge, practical skills, and customer service interactions. This new infrastructure serves to provide clear and tangible evidence of a blue-collar technician's competencies.

Transitioning from "I Can" to "It Is Proven"

The Home Engineer Certification System is not a gatekeeping mechanism but a way to convert the hard-earned skills of participants into trusted credentials that can be communicated to customers. The system is built around three key components:

1. Objective Criteria Through Testing: Participants must complete certain coursework, achieve over 90% on written examinations, and demonstrate their abilities through practical tests or customer service role plays.
2. Visualizing Skills with Certified ID Cards: Successful candidates will receive a physical card with their photo and unique certification number. Additionally, digital assets will be available for use on social media, websites, and business cards, providing online validation of expertise.
3. Career Path from Single to Multi-Skilled Technicians: Graduates start with one specific skill, like air conditioner cleaning, and can progressively gain certifications in house cleaning, washing machine maintenance, interior design, and appliance repair, thus evolving into well-rounded "Home Engineers" capable of addressing various customer needs.

Categories of Engineers

Upon successful completion of designated courses and exams, participants can earn certifications in the following categories:

• - Air Conditioning Cleaning Engineer: Requires completion of an introductory air conditioning course, full attendance, and passing grades.
• - House Cleaning Engineer: Focuses on essential cleaning services, meeting similar attendance and grading criteria.
• - Washing Machine Engineer: After two days of concentrated coursework and testing, participants can achieve this certification.
• - Interior Engineer: Covers various interior projects with defined testing criteria for practical and written assessments.
• - Appliance Repair Engineer: Focuses on repairing major appliances with stringent written and service exams.

By obtaining multiple certifications, technicians can effectively demonstrate their abilities and provide easier access for customers to find reliable professionals for their home issues, rather than starting their search from scratch each time.

Expert and Master Engineers: Visualizing Career Growth

The certification program also acknowledges multi-skilled professionals by offering advanced titles: "Expert Engineer" and "Master Engineer." This tiered recognition system emphasizes enhanced capabilities across multiple categories, enabling better service for customers facing various issues at home.

• - Category Engineer: Validates skills in a specific area.
• - Expert Engineer: Combines skills from multiple categories for increased adaptability.
• - Master Engineer: Represents the pinnacle of versatility, ensuring comprehensive service solutions.

This structured approach allows for clearly defined career progression and development paths for technicians, benefitting both the workforce and consumers.

The Certification Card: A Skill Portfolio

Each certification card will feature the recipient's photo and unique ID number, which can be presented during customer visits or business discussions. This effective communication tool aims to substantiate the technician's skills, thereby building a credible rapport with customers.

Additionally, providing digital assets and promotional materials allows certified professionals to leverage their credentials in various promotional platforms, while maintaining stringent measures against misuse and ensuring brand protection.

Inquiries about the Home Engineer Certification System

For more details about How Pro Academy's certification program, please visit the official website or contact us via LINE. We also welcome media coverage, field inspections, and interviews with certified engineers.

Shigotojin Co., Ltd. (How Pro)
Phone: 03-6808-6157
Email: [email protected]

Comments from CEO Toshihiko Tsuruhara

"Our lives are reliant on skilled craftsmen who apply their expertise diligently and effectively. However, many talented technicians struggle to communicate their skills unless there are systems in place to validate them. The Home Engineer Certification System offers a much-needed platform for blue-collar professionals, working towards creating a society that holds them in esteem and provides fair evaluations for their skills."