Press Release

Pearson VUE to deliver computer-based exams for the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine (JSPNM)


TOKYO, JAPAN — July 21, 2021

Pearson VUE, the global leader in computer-based testing, announced today it will now be transitioning the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine (JSPNM) over from pen and paper to computer-based exams later this year.

Medical professionals require assessments that measure a broad range of knowledge and skills. Pearson VUE has extensive experience of working in this sector, having delivered exams to over 120 healthcare and wellness certification programs worldwide across a range of different specialisms.

To ensure this superior level of medical care is upheld, JSPNM certifies perinatal specialists in two areas - perinatal specialists for newborns, since 2007, and perinatal specialists for maternal and fetal, since 2009. We selected Pearson VUE as our new exam delivery partner because of its proven track record in the medical sector.

—Dr. Masahiko Kawai, Director, Board of Certified Neonatologist Test and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Test (Kyoto University Hospital)

JSPNM was established in 2004 through the integration of the Japan Society of Neonatology and the Japan Society of Perinatology. The organization is aimed at contributing to the advancement of the welfare of the Japanese people, as well as maintaining and improving medical care standards in maternal, fetal, and neonatal healthcare.

As indicated by the 2019 perinatal mortality rate of 3.4% and neonatal mortality rate of 0.9%, Japan has the highest quality of perinatal care in the world.

Dr. Masahiko Kawai, Director, Board of Certified Neonatologist Test and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Test (Kyoto University Hospital) explained: "To ensure this superior level of medical care is upheld, JSPNM certifies perinatal specialists in two areas - perinatal specialists for newborns, since 2007, and perinatal specialists for maternal and fetal, since 2009. We selected Pearson VUE as our new exam delivery partner because of its proven track record in the medical sector."

The following exams will be delivered at Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers in Japan on November 7th, 2021:

  • Board Certified Neonatologist Test (BCN)
  • Board Certified Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Test (BCMFMS)

With the disruption around COVID-19, unfortunately we had to cancel all of our certification exams in 2020, since the safety of our candidates is our absolute priority. Thanks to Pearson VUE’s test center network all through Japan, we will be able to minimize the distance our doctors need to travel to an available test center from this year.

—Dr. Shinji Tanigaki, Director, Board of Certified Neonatologist Test and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Test (Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University)

Candidates can book their test appointments online from August 23rd through November 6th. They will be able to take their exams at a number of different locations across Pearson VUE’s testing network in Japan (whereas with the previous format, all candidates had to assemble in the same test center). Providing greater availability of appointments across multiple locations will help the JSPNM to navigate social distancing requirements around the ongoing pandemic.

Dr. Shinji Tanigaki, Director, Board of Certified Neonatologist Test and Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Test (Faculty of Medicine, Kyorin University) commented: "With the disruption around COVID-19, unfortunately we had to cancel all of our certification exams in 2020, since the safety of our candidates is our absolute priority. Thanks to Pearson VUE’s test center network all through Japan, we will be able to minimize the distance our doctors need to travel to an available test center from this year."

Tetsu Ikeda, Vice President, Pearson VUE Japan, said: "JSPNM’s certifications maintain the standards of safe practice in maternal, fetal, and neonatal healthcare, proving perinatal specialists have the knowledge and ability to provide safe treatment to babies and their mothers. We are honored to be delivering such important certification exams which support the JSPNM in the provision of world-leading mother-child health and care."

For more testing information about the Board Certified Neonatologist (BCN) and Board Certified Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist (BCMFMS) tests, please visit www.pearsonvue.co.jp/jspnm


About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE has been a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry for decades, delivering more than 16 million certification and licensure exams annually in every industry from academia and admissions to IT and healthcare. We are the global leader in developing and delivering high-stakes exams via the world's most comprehensive network of nearly 20,000 highly secure test centers as well as online testing in over 180 countries. Our leadership in the assessment industry is a result of our collaborative partnerships with a broad range of clients, from leading technology firms to government and regulatory agencies. For more information, please visit PearsonVUE.com.

About the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine (JSPNM)

The JSPNM is aimed at maintaining and improving the level of care and research on fetuses/neonates, maternity/maternal body, and nurturing researchers and healthcare professionals in these fields. Its ultimate goal is contributing to advancing national welfare and healthcare through the provision of improved mother-child health and care and improvements in the healthcare, research, education, and clinical practice of physicians and other partners/members of the Society.

For more information, please visit www.jspnm.com (Japanese) or www.jspnm.com/Eng/index.html (English).

Media contact

Caroline Darrington, Global PR & Communications Manager
+44 7785 557375
caroline.darrington@pearson.com