JLPT in the USA: Dates, Registration, Cost, Test Sites

In the United States, the JLPT is offered once a year, in December, not in July. Registration runs through AATJ and opened on August 18 in 2026. The 2026 test is Sunday, December 6, at 21 US locations. Check the AATJ page for current fees and sites. If you live in the US, that single December sitting shapes your whole study plan. Here is what you need to know, from registration to test day. When is the JLPT held in the United States? The JLPT is held on one worldwide date twice a year, in July and December. Many cities host only one of the two sittings, and the US hosts December only. For 2026, the date is Sunday, December 6. This matters for planning. If you tell yourself "I will take it in July if I am not ready in December," that backup sitting does not exist for US test sites. Plan around one date per year, and treat registration as the real deadline. Can I take the JLPT in July if I live in the US? Not at a US test site. If you want a July sitting, you would need to test outside the US, for example in Japan or another country that offers July. That usually means travel costs and, in Japan, eligibility rules that are stricter for non-residents, so most American learners plan around December. How do I register for the JLPT in the US? Outside Japan, the Japan Foundation works through a local host organization in each country. In the US, that host is the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), and registration happens on the AATJ JLPT page. Here is a simple routine: Check the AATJ page in July for the registration announcement. Decide your level (see below) and your nearest test site before registration opens. Register on the first days of the window. Seats at popular sites can fill within days. Save your confirmation email and read the site instructions as soon as they arrive. In 2026, registration opened on August 18. Expect a similar window in 2027, but confirm the exact dates on AATJ. If the 2026 window has closed by the time you read this, plan for the following December. How much does the JLPT cost in the US? Fees are set by the host organization, not by a single global price. For the December 2026 sitting, one secondary source reported a fee of USD 135. Treat that as an indicator, not a quote, and confirm the current price on the AATJ registration page before you budget. Also budget for travel if your nearest site is far away. Some US learners drive many hours to reach a site, so a hotel night can add more than the exam fee itself. Where are the JLPT test sites in the US? In 2026, AATJ listed 21 locations across the US. The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa is one of the official sites. Because the list changes year to year, use the AATJ page for the current one rather than a third-party list. Tips for choosing a site: Pick the closest site, since you cannot choose a different date. Check which levels each site offers when you register. Read the site's arrival time and venue notes. Each host sets its own. Which JLPT level should I register for? Choose the level where you can realistically pass, not the one you hope to reach. If you have never measured your level, take our free Japanese placement test first. It places you between N5 and N1 in about half an hour. A rough guide: N5: You can read hiragana, katakana and a small set of basic kanji, and handle simple everyday sentences. N4: You can follow slow, simple conversations and short texts on familiar topics. N3 and above: You are bridging into natural speech and longer texts. For a full breakdown of what each level expects, read JLPT levels explained . How should I prepare between now and December? Work backwards from the test date: Three to four months out: Finish a structured course. If you are heading for N5, the JLPT N5 Grammar course covers the grammar points in order. If you use a textbook such as Genki, pair it with extra vocabulary and kanji practice, since no single textbook covers everything. Two months out: Start timed practice. The timed JLPT mo…