How many qualifications are there?

Roughly 540 categories as of the 2020s, with regular additions and mergers.

How long does a written-exam pass last?

Two years from the results date for the same qualification.

National Technical Qualification (Korea)

📚 Education By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 26, 2026

A National Technical Qualification is a state-certified credential in South Korea that verifies technical, craft, or service skills under the National Technical Qualifications Act. Most exams are run by HRD Korea.

Contents

1. History
2. Grades and eligibility
3. How it differs from other credentials
4. FAQ
5. References

History

Korea's push into heavy and chemical industry in the 1960s and 1970s created an urgent need for skilled workers with verifiable abilities. In 1973 the government passed the National Technical Qualifications Act, folding scattered trade licenses into one national framework. A dedicated agency for vocational training and testing, today's Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea), followed in 1982. Computer-based testing and the Q-Net online portal arrived in the 2000s. Since 2015, exam standards have been rewritten around the National Competency Standards, and a course-based route now awards some qualifications to people who complete accredited training and pass its assessments.

Grades and eligibility

Technical fields use five grades. From the top they are Professional Engineer, Master Craftsman, Engineer, Industrial Engineer, and Craftsman. Anyone can sit a Craftsman exam. Industrial Engineer typically requires a related two-year degree or a Craftsman license plus a year of experience. Engineer requires a related four-year degree, or Industrial Engineer plus a year of work. Most candidates must pass a multiple-choice written exam and a practical exam, and a written pass stays valid for two years. Office-skills tests run by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, such as the Computer Specialist in Spreadsheet & Database, are also national technical qualifications.

How it differs from other credentials

Licenses that grant exclusive rights to practice, such as those for lawyers, CPAs, or nurses, are "national professional qualifications" and are governed by their own laws. Technical qualifications certify broader industrial skills. In electrical, gas, fire, and safety work, statutes require firms to appoint qualified holders, so these credentials lead directly to jobs. Private certificates are issued by non-government bodies and vary widely in recognition.

FAQ

How many qualifications are there?: Roughly 540 categories as of the 2020s, with regular additions and mergers.
How long does a written-exam pass last?: Two years from the results date for the same qualification.

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.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '국가기술자격' on CampusDown →

Craftsman qualification (Korea)The Craftsman (gineungsa) grade, the entry level of Korea's National Technical Qualifications: its origins, open eligibility, 60-question computer-based written exam and hands-on practical test, year-round testing, and the path up to Industrial Engineer and Engineer.📚 Education Industrial Engineer qualification (Korea)Korea's Industrial Engineer grade, created in the 1990s reorganization of technical qualifications: eligibility via two-year degrees or Craftsman plus experience, pass marks (40 per subject, 60 average), how it differs from the Engineer grade, and how employers use it.📚 Education Engineer qualification (Korea)Korea's Engineer (gisa) grade of National Technical Qualification: history, eligibility (four-year related degree or Industrial Engineer plus one year), pass marks, major fields such as Information Processing and Electrical Engineer, and its weight in public-sector hiring.📚 Education Private qualification (Korea)How Korea's private qualification system works since the 1997 Framework Act on Qualifications: mandatory registration from 2008, registered versus state-accredited certificates, how to verify one on the official database, and what they're worth to employers.📚 Education National Competency Standards (NCS, Korea)Korea's National Competency Standards: why they were created (development from 2002, public-sector hiring from 2015), the 10 basic vocational competencies, job-specific competencies, and the module, PSAT-style, and hybrid written tests used by public enterprises.📚 Education Engineer Information ProcessingEngineer Information Processing is Korea's flagship national IT technical qualification run by HRD Korea. Covers eligibility routes, the five-subject written exam, the written practical exam, pass marks and how it is used in hiring.📚 Education

Latest ArticlesView all ›

New guides for college study and assignments (Korean)

This article was last updated on October 26, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.