Certifications and qualifications

Q1 What kind of qualifications can be acquired in 4 years?

A1
Upon graduation, students will be eligible to take the national examinations to become a public health nurse, clinical nurse and midwife.
For public health nurses and clinical nurses, students will be eligible to take the respective examinations.
For midwives, in addition to the credits necessary for graduation, students are required to complete the prescribed courses in order to be qualified to take the national examination.
Upon graduation, students will be qualified to apply for the license to become a 1st class Yogo teacher. Students will be eligible to apply for this license as long as they complete the prescribed courses in addition to the credits needed for graduation.
After receiving a PHN certificate, students may apply for the license to become a 2nd class Yogo teacher or 1st class health supervisor.

Q2 What does a clinical nurse do?

A2
Nursing staff can be classified into public health nurses, midwives and clinical nurses.
There are 2 types of license for clinical nurses. One is to become a clinical nurse and is issued by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. The other is to become an assistant nurse and is issued by the municipal governor (at Fukuoka Prefectural University, students will be eligible to take the national examination for the clinical nurse).
The main role of a clinical nurse is to offer daily care support to people with illnesses or disabilities, and in the doctor's examination room. The majority of clinical nurses work in hospitals and surgeries. However, the number of clinical nurses working at such places as health care facilities for the elderly and domiciliary care stations is on the rise.

Q3 What does a public health nurse do?

A3
Public health nurses are licensed by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and provide health promotional services mostly in the fields of disease prevention and healthcare.
Most public health nurses belong to and play active roles in administrative bodies (e.g. municipalities, health care centers). However, some are engaged in healthcare jobs in private enterprises and offices.

Q4 What does a midwife do?

A4
Midwives are certified by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, and engage in a range of activities aimed at assisting a normal delivery, protecting the health of mother and child during pregnancy, and childrearing. Furthermore, midwives offer healthcare services relating to sex and procreation so as to help adolescent, middle-aged and older women stay healthy.
The majority of midwives work in the obstetrics department in hospitals or surgeries. Furthermore, as it is legal for midwives to set up their own practices, some of them offer support services to pregnant and/or breastfeeding women by setting up community-based midwifery centers and consultation centers for breastfeeding mothers.

Q5 What does a Yogo teacher do?

A5
Like other school teachers, a Yogo teacher must have a teaching certificate as a Yogo teacher as stipulated in the laws for Certification of Educational Personnel. There are 3 different types of certificates for Yogo teachers: the "specialized certificate", the "1st class certificate" and the "2nd class certificate". Students will receive different certificates depending on the number of credits earned.
The Yogo teacher is also called a school-nurse teacher. Yogo teachers care for the mental and physical health of school children and teach the subject of physical education. In addition to children with physical difficulties, children with psychological ailments also visit the school nurse's office. A broad knowledge base is therefore required.