Hello expatriation enthusiasts. I'm a software engineer in a specialized field that has something between 2 and 5 times more open positions than experienced candidates depending on the local market. (This will be important later) I've been working in tech for just about 7 years, of which the last 4 have been in this engineering specialization. I do not have a bachelor's degree.

I want to move to Japan. The reasons are not relevant, beyond that they are significant enough to me to accept the lower salary potential, difficulty blending into society, reduced contact with American friends and family, and any other downsides associated with that move.

The difficulty is, in order to qualify for a work visa, one must either hold a bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the work one intends to do in Japan, or have more than 10 years of experience in the field, which is defined inconsistently depending on who reviews the visa application, and may not include the 3 years of technical experience I gained working toward the role I've held for the past 4. Or at least, that's the conventional wisdom. My research has suggested the possibility that IT workers who hold an ITPEC Engineering Fundamentals certification can receive an exemption from the degree requirement, and that it's possible to undertake the examination in the Philippines even if one is not a Philippine national, in order to achieve this certification. However, beyond a few anecdotes from people who "know a coworker" who entered on this premise, and one German migrant to Japan who spoke about it, I've struggled to find clear examples of what to do, how to do it, and whether this is option is actually generally available, or if a few people "just got lucky."

(To be clear, I tried a couple of the previously-published ITPEC FE exams and achieved passing, if imperfect, scores with no prior study or review. I am confident that I could pass the exam for real provided I spend a little time knocking the cobwebs loose)

Now, as pertains the job part of the equation, provided I can hypothetically get a visa, I'm confident that I can convince a firm (Japanese or international) to hire me in Japan and sponsor said visa. My engineering specialization is in massive demand globally, and it heavily favors experience to formal education. I've done plenty of research and spoken to contacts familiar with the market in Japan, and even without a degree (often a requirement for applicants in Japan regardless of visa status) the opportunities are there. So I'm not overly concerned with that part, nor am I particularly concerned with the size of the pay cut I'll invariably be taking to do this work in Japan.

Due to a combination of the ongoing pandemic, a desire to drastically improve my Japanese language skills and polish a few market-specific technical skills, and the few outstanding obligations I still have stateside, my timeline for moving is a window opening in about the next 18-20 months.

My question is, for people who have direct experience (especially American nationals) with entering Japan as an IT professional without a bachelor's degree, or specifically with entering Japan by gaining ITPEC FE certification, am I missing something here? Or is it actually possible to bypass the traditional education requirement this way?