Japan Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist National Exam Photo: Size Spec and How to Create It
A spec-compliant Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist (言語聴覚士) national exam photo (60mm × 40mm) from a smartphone shot for ¥200, per Japan MHLW and the Public-interest Foundation for Medical Education and Training (PMET).
| Dimensions | 60mm × 40mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | Not specified |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | No official background color requirement; convention is plain white or light background |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | MHLW / Public-interest Foundation for Medical Education and Training (PMET) |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-27)
Verbatim official spec
The verbatim official rules from Japan's MHLW and PMET are shown below in the original Japanese.
- 「出願前６月以内に脱帽正面で撮影した縦６センチメートル、横４センチメートルのもので、その裏面に撮影年月日及び氏名を記載し、公益財団法人医療研修推進財団において交付する受験写真用台紙に貼り付けた上、同台紙に所定の事項を記入して提出する。」
- 「卒業し、若しくは在籍している学校若しくは言語聴覚士養成所又は公益財団法人医療研修推進財団において、その写真が受験者本人と相違ない旨の確認を受ける。」
Why this spec matters
A Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist (ST) in Japan is a national license holder responsible for rehabilitation in three domains: speech, hearing, and swallowing (嚥下, enge). Practitioners work in medical, welfare, and education settings on aphasia, articulation disorders, hearing loss and hearing-aid fitting, and dysphagia (swallowing disorders). The license is grounded in the Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist Act, promulgated in 1997 and enforced in 1998 — relatively new compared to Physical Therapists (PT) and Occupational Therapists (OT), whose underlying law dates to 1965. The scope of practice is clearly distinct: PT covers basic motor functions (walking, standing), OT covers applied daily-living activities (eating, dressing, bathing), and ST covers speech / hearing / swallowing — these are three separate licenses with three separate exams. The 28th exam (held 2026-02-21) drew 2,187 candidates with 1,453 passing — a 66.4% pass rate, more competitive than the 85%-range PT/OT exams. Administration is also unique: while PT and OT are run by the MHLW Examination & Research Center, the ST exam is administered by the Public-interest Foundation for Medical Education and Training (PMET). The photo spec is the unified medical-exam format (60mm tall × 40mm wide), but applicants must glue the photo to the official "exam photo mounting sheet" issued by PMET and obtain an identity-verification stamp from their graduating / current training school (or PMET itself) confirming the photo is of the candidate. Note this size differs from My Number or driver's license (35×45mm), and the application flow is entirely separate from the PT/OT exams.
How to create it for ¥200
A spec-compliant Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist exam photo takes about two minutes with a smartphone and ¥200.
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a plain wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly, no hat, neutral expression or slight smile, both shoulders level, eyes on the lens. - 2
AI removes the background and aligns to spec
Upload the photo and select the "Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist Exam" preset. AI removes the background, detects your face, and auto-crops to the 60mm × 40mm size. - 3
Print via QR, write on back, glue to mounting sheet, get verification stamp
After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. Print at any Japan convenience store, write the date taken and your full name on the back with a black ballpoint pen, glue the photo to the PMET-issued mounting sheet, and obtain the identity-verification stamp from your training school or PMET.
Create a Spec-Compliant Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 60mm × 40mm MHLW spec. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.
Create now — ¥200What Ramune AI ID Photo offers
Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.
0.1mm face position adjustment
Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.
Auto-generated L-size print sheet
Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.
AI removes the background automatically
Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.
AI skin smoothing with a natural finish
Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.
Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide
Scan a QR code at the multi-copy machine in 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30.
5-language support, no app required
Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.
Frequently asked questions
How does the scope of practice differ from PT and OT?
Is the administering body the same as the PT and OT exams?
What is "swallowing (嚥下, enge)"?
Is the exam offered as a CBT (computer-based test)?
If I am currently enrolled in a training school, can my school principal sign the verification?
Related content
Create a Spec-Compliant Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the 60mm × 40mm MHLW spec. QR code for convenience-store printing is emailed to you.
Create now — ¥200