In my late 40s, I was happy to earn a public certification, but then I realized I was still inexperienced

Hello, I am a HAS engineer.
I am currently in my late 40s. Even as I get older, I continue to earn certifications for career advancement.

I recentlypassed the "QC Certification Level 2"and my certificate has arrived.
After all, no matter how old you are, it feels good to be“recognized.”

What is the QC Certification?

The QC (Quality Control) Certification is a public qualification administered by theQuality Control Certification Centerof the Japanese Standards Association (JSA) Group.
It evaluates knowledge and application skills regarding quality and is utilized in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing.

The exam is heldtwice a year (March and September).I decided to take it this time because my company provided information about group registration.

Target Audience for Each Level

The QC Certification ranges from Level 1 to Level 4, with lower numbers indicating higher difficulty.

• Level 4: Introduction to quality control. For new employees and students.

• Level 3: For junior technicians and general on-site workers.

• Level 2: For on-site leaders, mid-level technicians, and supervisor-class personnel.

• Level 1: For quality control managers and those in supervisory positions. Includes essay and oral exams.

Pass Rates (Data from March 2025)

Level 4: 84.29%
Level 3: 51.72%
Level 2: 34.88%
Level 1: 4.99% (Exempt from 1st stage exam: 17.28%)

In particular,the difficulty increases significantly from Level 2 onwards. (Level 1 is on a different level entirely.)
However, if you prepare thoroughly, focusing on past exam questions, it is entirely possible to pass through self-study.

What kind of preparation did I do?

I did not take any special courses, but insteadused standard commercial reference books and past exam questionsto study on my own.

• I solved all six sets of past exam questions.

• For calculation problems, I repeated them until I understood "why it works that way."

• I honed my problem-solving skills from both the theoretical and pattern-recognition perspectives.

The price is a bit high, but these two books were enough.

Examinees of all ages, both young and old

Looking at the age-based exam data published by the JSA, there are many people in their 20s taking the Grade 2 exam in particular, but what surprised me was the range of ages.

I thought people in my older age group would be in the minority, but people in their 50s and 60s are also taking the course.

• Youngest successful candidate: 16 years old (the same age as my son)

• Oldest examinee: 77 years old!

I felt that for some, it is no longer about career advancement or salary increases, but rather they are taking the exam as a lifelong learning pursuit.
I have nothing but respect for those who take on the challenge even in their 70s.

Reference link:
https://webdesk.jsa.or.jp/pdf/qc/39kq2la45k.pdf

Having actually done it, how will it affect my future career?

Although I am not a quality control expert, project management includes a section on "quality management."

The scope of the Grade 2 exam includes:

• PDCA and SDCA cycles

• Quality tools such as control charts and cause-and-effect diagrams

• Knowledge related to education and management is also included

I realized that it is also highly compatible from a project management perspective.

I come from an engineering background and was also interested in design quality and statistics.
Through studying for the Grade 2 exam, I feel that my knowledge of things like normal distribution and control charts was reorganized and elevated into a form that I can apply more effectively in my work.

Challenges never end, no matter how old you are

As mentioned in the note below, I also obtained my PMP out of necessity, but even though it is difficult, being recognized after passing is a great motivation and leads to the next step.

Honestly, I was relieved when I passed the QC Grade 2 exam, but looking at the demographic of the examinees, I also felt that "I still have a long way to go."Seeing the 16-year-old successful candidate and the people in their 70s working quietly stimulated my own sense of challenge.

If I had thought that I didn't need to take any more qualifications, I would never have had these realizations in my life.
Even when I am in my 60s or 70s, I want to be someone who continues to take on challenges.

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope this article helps boost your motivation.