Concept and history
The Craftsman grade dates back to the creation of the National Technical Qualification system in 1973. It was designed to certify the welders, electricians, and machinists Korea's industrializing economy needed. The grade was first split into Craftsman Class 1 and Class 2. Reforms in the 1990s turned Class 1 into Industrial Engineer and left Class 2 as today's Craftsman. Several hundred trades are now covered, from cooking and hairdressing to electrical work, welding, construction, and IT. Categories keep changing with industry; in 2026, for example, Information Processing Craftsman was replaced by Programming Craftsman.
Exam format
There are no age, education, or experience requirements, so high-school students and career changers can apply directly. The written test is usually 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes on a computer, with a pass mark of 60 out of 100. Depending on the trade, the practical exam is hands-on, written short-answer, or a mix, and it also requires 60 points. Popular trades run on "always-open" scheduling, so candidates can book a date that suits them.
Jobs and career path
A Craftsman license is a starting point for hands-on work. Logistics centers look for the forklift license, and institutional kitchens ask for the Korean cuisine cook license. After one year of related work a holder can sit the Industrial Engineer exam; after three years, the Engineer exam. That lets people move up without a degree, though a single entry-level license rarely leads to a high-skill job on its own.
FAQ
- How long does it take to earn one?
- Typically 2–4 weeks for the written test and 1–3 months for the practical, depending on the trade.
- Are there practical-only craftsman exams?
- Yes. Trades such as wallpapering and plastering have no written test.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- 산업인력공단. Q-Net 국가자격 시험 안내. https://www.q-net.or.kr
- 국가기술자격법 (법률), 국가법령정보센터. https://www.law.go.kr
- 국가기술자격법 시행령 별표 (검정 응시자격), 국가법령정보센터.