IPA to suspend key IT certification exams in late 2026

The Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) has announced a temporary suspension of several national IT examinations starting December 28, 2026. The affected exams include the IT Passport, Information Security Management, and Fundamental Information Technology Engineer examinations. This suspension is due to a planned system replacement.

A new examination system is expected to be implemented around the spring of the 2027 fiscal year. Under the new structure, the IT Passport exam will undergo significant changes, shifting its focus areas from ‘Strategy, Management, and Technology’ to ‘Business, Technology, Security, and Ethics’ to better reflect the era of AI and data utilization. While the Information Security Management and Fundamental Information Technology Engineer exams are expected to maintain their current scope of knowledge and skills, the specific implementation details for 2027 will be announced by the IPA at a later date.