noun
certification exam; licensing exam
A formal test to certify a skill or qualification, such as language proficiency or professional licensing.
日本語能力検定試験を受けるつもりです。
I plan to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
資格試験 is a broader term for any qualification exam, while 検定試験 often implies a standardized test for certifying a specific skill level.
Compound of 検定 (kentei, 'certification') and 試験 (shiken, 'examination').