International mobility of civil engineers is evolving. In response to this trend, Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) laid out a plan wherein civil engineers would grow into highly-qualified professionals with sound ethics and make a positive contribution to infrastructure development and society, and then it established Civil Engineers Qualification System (CEQS) and Continuous Professional Development System (CPD) in April 2001. Afterwards, the JSCE has strengthened these systems and assisted civil engineers to improve their professional knowledge, skills and abilities.

This paper discusses the status of civil engineers in Japan, the positive applications and influences of the CEQS and CPD, and future challenges in these education systems.