MEC

What MEC does

MEC Co., Ltd. (株式会社メック), founded in Tokyo on December 21, 1982, is a privately-held Japanese preparatory school specializing in the national medical licensing examination. The company serves medical students nationwide—primarily repeat examinees (既卒生) and current medical university students—with an 11-month intensive flagship classroom course, one-on-one physician tutoring, a five-cycle annual mock exam series, and specialized courses for current students and overseas medical graduates. MEC reports a 92.0% average pass rate across Exams 118–120 versus 49.5% for non-MEC repeat examinees, and claims the largest medical exam prep membership base in Japan (312 active members as of December 2025 across all courses).

The core technology stack centers on MEC Net., a proprietary digital learning platform integrating video lectures, question practice, mock exam delivery, performance tracking, and career-matching information. MEC i-Tutor (launched 2019) is positioned as an industry-first AI-driven learning support system that extends the reach of human Learning Instructors. Performance analytics are powered by an Item Response Theory (IRT)-based assessment engine and a 40+ year dataset of 400,000+ examinee records analyzed by the in-house Medical Evaluation Center. Content output exceeds 400 lecture titles and 400 textbook titles produced annually.

MEC monetizes through multi-year classroom course subscriptions starting at ¥1,630,000 inclusive, separate fees for mock exams, per-seat one-on-one tutoring (3,321 sessions in FY2025), textbook and video content sales, and B2B contracts with 82 medical universities. The wholly-owned subsidiary C-MEC extends monetization into the post-qualification physician lifecycle via DoctorsStudy (specialist e-learning), MEC Station (physician career support launched August 2024), and hospital digital advertising. Distribution combines four 24/7 physical campuses (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka), the WEB School online course (launched February 2024), the MEC Net. / mobile app (March 2025), and dedicated sales representatives covering 82 universities. Ant Capital Partners became a capital and business partner in 2020.

Name

MEC

Legal name

株式会社メック

Website

https://gomec.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

MEC is a privately-held Japanese medical exam preparation school founded in 1982, operating four physical campuses plus an online school to help repeat examinees and current medical students pass the national medical licensing exam, with reported 92% student pass rates and a 40+ year proprietary exam data advantage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Exam Preparation Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB)

Keywords

• Medical exam preparation
• Test preparation services
• Medical licensing courses
• E-learning platform
• Physician career support

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (Headquarters + Tokyo School)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tutoring School Courses (医師国家試験対策予備校): Core revenue stream from four physical school campuses (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka) plus WEB School. Course fees starting from ¥1,630,000 inclusive tax. Includes comprehensive exam preparation courses, active courses, one-on-one tutoring, and overseas medical school graduate programs.
2. Mock Exams (メック模試): Five annual mock exams serving medical students nationwide (CBT, 5th-year, Spring, Summer, Winter). Approximately 6,000-8,300 test takers per exam. Revenue from exam registration fees.
3. Content/Textbook Sales (出版・教材): Sale of medical examination textbooks, standard commentaries (e.g., 'MEC標準解説集'), video lecture products (e.g., 'コンパクト内科', '国試サマライズ', 'LAST MESSAGE'), and specialized subject materials through MEC Net. e-commerce platform. Over 400 titles produced annually.
4. One-on-One Tutoring (個別指導): Individual tutoring sessions with qualified physicians. 2025 fiscal year saw 3,321 tutoring sessions conducted. Pricing is course-based with campaign discounts available.
5. C-MEC Group Services (株式会社シーメック): Subsidiary C-MEC operates physician career support platform (MEC Station), e-learning for specialists (Doctors Study), hospital consulting, and physician job placement services (licensed staffing agency).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MEC is a Japanese medical licensing examination preparation school offering classroom courses, online courses, one-on-one tutoring, and a comprehensive mock exam series to medical students preparing for the national medical licensing exam (医師国家試験). The company also sells textbooks and digital learning content directly to Japan's 82 medical universities and supports the post-exam career lifecycle of physicians through its subsidiary C-MEC (MEC Station, Doctors Study, Matching Plaza).

Product overview

MEC offers a multi-layered educational product portfolio centered on medical exam preparation. The core offering is the 医師国家試験対策予備校メック (MEC), an in-person and online school operating at four campuses, supported by the comprehensive learning platform MEC Net. which provides free exam question practice, video lectures, mock exams, and matching services. The product lineup includes specialized sub-products such as 国試サマライズ (summary lectures), 国試無双 (exam techniques), LAST MESSAGE (final pre-exam lectures), コンパクト内科 (e-book/video internal medicine), MEC必修講座 (required exam prep), and the メック模試 mock exam series (five annual exams including CBT). Supporting services include MEC採点サービス (free scoring service), MEC iチューター (AI-based learning support), MEC Circle (online study community), and C-MEC/MEC Station for career matching and physician career development. The portfolio spans from pre-medical school through practicing physicians, integrating self-study tools, instructor-led courses, peer communities, and career services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MEC Net. 医学生のための総合学習プラットフォーム。問題演習、講座視聴、模試受験・成績確認などのサービスを提供。
• シーメック（C-MEC）
• MEC Station
• メック模試
• マッチング広場

Products and services

• 通学コース (Classroom Course) 11-month intensive in-person classroom course (通学コース) for medical students preparing for the national medical licensing exam, including live lectures, mock exams, and the industry-unique Learning Instructor support system. Offered at four campuses (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka) with course fees starting from ¥1,630,000 inclusive tax.
• アクティブコース (Active Course) Fully personalized preparation course with dedicated instructor and dedicated staff providing one-on-one academic and lifestyle support. Designed for repeat examinees and students requiring tailored pacing.
• 個別指導スタンダードコース (One-on-One Tutoring Standard Course) One-on-one tutoring course in which a dedicated instructor delivers individually targeted preparation to help students achieve their exam goals. Available at all campuses and online, with 3,321 sessions in FY2025.
• WEBスクール (WEB School) Fully online course delivering the same curriculum as in-person classes through a dedicated web space, enabling remote participation for students unable to attend campuses.
• 卒業試験対策コース (Graduation Exam Preparation Course) University graduation exam preparation course offering personalized curriculum design, mock exams, and one-on-one instruction to address individual student weaknesses, aligned with each university's exam schedule.
• 海外医学部卒業生コース (Overseas Medical School Graduate Course) Course for graduates of overseas medical schools preparing for the Japanese-language medical proficiency test and the national medical licensing exam, with a reported 93%+ pass rate.
• メック模試 (MEC Mock Exam Series) Series of five annual mock exams (CBT, 5th-year, Spring, Summer, Winter) for national medical exam candidates, with 6,000-8,300+ test takers per exam and detailed performance analytics. Available to students nationwide and used by 82 universities for benchmarking.
• MEC Net. (Medical student learning platform) Comprehensive learning platform for medical students integrating video lectures, problem practice, mock exam registration and results, performance tracking, and matching/career information. MEC Qualified Method-based e-learning accessible on web and mobile.
• MEC i-Tutor (MEC iチュータ-) Industry-first AI-powered learning support system that delivers personalized study recommendations to extend Learning Instructor guidance to a broader population of medical students.
• MEC 採点サービス (MEC Scoring Service) Free self-scoring service for national medical exam takers providing model answer commentary, pass/fail prediction analysis, and performance benchmarking against 5,000+ users.
• MEC公式アプリ (MEC Official Mobile App) Official mobile application for iOS/Android providing exam practice questions, mock exams, lecture viewing, and career matching information for medical students, with physician-focused features for training and career support.
• MEC Circle (卒業生向けオンライン学習コミュニティ) Online study community for past-year students providing mock exam access plus a virtual space for peer interaction and group study.
• ドクタースタディ (DoctorsStudy) Education content platform for physicians and residents operated by C-MEC, offering video courses for initial training, specialist exam preparation, and certification tracks.
• MEC Station (医師キャリアサポート) Career support platform for physicians offering specialist certification guidance, job referrals, side work opportunities, and career change consulting services.
• マッチング広場 / 初期研修病院サーチ (Clinical Training Hospital Matching Platform) Medical student matching platform providing event calendars, hospital information, matching tips, resume and interview guidance, and an initial training hospital search platform with filtering by desired conditions, historical matching rates, and member-exclusive hospital reviews and visit scheduling.
• 教科書・教材販売 (Textbook and Materials Sales) Sale of medical examination textbooks, standard commentaries (e.g., MEC標準解説集), video lecture products, and specialized subject materials produced annually (400+ titles), available directly via MEC Net. and to 82 universities via dedicated sales representatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92.0% average pass rate for MEC students across exams 118-120 vs. 49.5% for non-MEC repeat examinees
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 株式会社シーメック (C-MEC Co., Ltd.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982Group company established in November 2021 (originated as MEC Line in 2013). Focuses on physician career support, hospital consulting, specialist e-learning (Doctors Study), and physician job placement services. Provides comprehensive post-national-exam services for physicians, complementing MEC's student-focused offerings.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Ageroute (アガルート): Online professional exam prep platform offering courses across legal, accounting, and other professional certifications including medical exam preparation. Comparable to MEC's WEB School in delivery model but with a broader professional certification portfolio.

Direct peers

• TECOM (株式会社テコム): Japanese medical and dental licensing exam preparation school and one of MEC's primary direct competitors in the physician exam prep category. Targets the same Japanese medical student persona with classroom and online courses for national exam preparation.
• TAC (TAC株式会社): One of Japan's largest professional exam prep companies offering medical licensing exam courses alongside legal, accounting, and other certifications. Directly competes with MEC in the physician national exam segment via classroom and online formats across Japan.
• Medic Media (メディックメディア): Publishes the widely-used 'QB' online question bank and 'Byome ga Mieru' (Disease Atlas) textbook series that medical students rely on for national exam preparation. Directly overlaps with MEC's MEC Net. question practice and textbook offerings for medical students nationwide.

Broad incumbents

• Benesse Corporation (ベネッセコーポレーション): Major Japanese education company offering correspondence courses, publishing, and digital learning platforms across K-12 and adult learners. Comparable to MEC in educational content and platform business but operates in adjacent non-medical certification segments at much greater scale.
• MedPeer (メドピア): Physician community platform with clinical decision support, drug information, and career content. Comparable to MEC's physician-facing C-MEC services but serves the broader practicing physician market rather than exam prep students.
• m3.com (エムスリー): Largest physician platform in Japan providing career services, clinical information, and education for practicing doctors. Overlaps with MEC's C-MEC subsidiary offerings (MEC Station, Doctors Study) but operates across the broader physician community rather than student-focused exam prep.
• CareNet (ケアネット): Physician continuing education and clinical content platform with medical news, video lectures, and e-learning services for practicing doctors. Comparable to MEC's content publishing and e-learning business but oriented toward licensed physicians rather than exam candidates.
• Recruit Holdings (リクルート): Major Japanese services conglomerate operating medical career placement, staffing, and HR services that overlap with C-MEC's physician job placement and career support business. Comparable through the career services adjacency rather than core exam prep.

Others

• Igaku-Shoin (医学書院): Premier Japanese medical textbook and journal publisher producing reference materials used by medical students and physicians. Comparable to MEC's textbook publishing business but focused on clinical and academic reference works rather than exam-specific content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mec__official?lang=ja
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwG32LKX9WBnEy3Gw9E5DfA/featured
• Instagraminstagram.com/mec__official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MEC