In a social media post, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday applications for nurses and caregivers for the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) are still being accepted after the deadline was extended to May 31.

For applicant nurses, they are required to be graduates of BS Nursing (BSN) with active license from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); and has a minimum of three years hospital, clinic or health center work experience.

For caregiver applicants, the DMW said they are also required to be graduates of BSN with or without PRC license; and a graduate of any four-year course with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) NC II Caregiving.

All candidates are required to under six months of Preparatory Japanese Language Training to be held in the Philippines.

The candidates will have another six months of more intensive Japanese language training in Japan.

The annual government-to-government hiring program between the Philippines and Japan began in 2009.

Since then, the Philippine government has deployed more than 3,600 Filipino nurses and caregiver candidates to Japan. DMS