Qualifications You Need to Teach in China

There are a few requirements you must complete before you may legally teach in China:

Your home nation's certification as an English-speaking teacher or a valid passport from a "native speaker" country is required to enter the program.

TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification or a Bachelor's degree

Background check with no felony convictions

Under the age of 55 for women and 60 for males

Let's take a closer look at this, shall we?

A "Native English Speaker" is required for this position

You must be from one of the seven "native speaker" countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, in order to teach lawfully in China. That "native speaker" is usually in quotation marks is because many native English speakers (I'm thinking of India, Singapore, the Philippines...) aren't from these countries (and there are many of them) are permitted to teach English as a second language (ESL) in China.

Now, if you're not from one of these seven nations, there are still legal methods for you to work in China as a teacher. You may lawfully teach in China if you are a qualified teacher in your native country with at least two years of teaching experience. The only catch is that you'll have to teach a subject outside English. English may be used to teach a wide range of subjects, including arithmetic, physics, psychology, history, theatre, music, and even business and economics.

One of my Danish friends, for example, was a licensed teacher in her own country. In the end, she landed a fantastic job in China instructing elementary school students in arithmetic! The business, math, and economics professors of many of my former pupils were from India, as well.

Second, a college degree is required

You'll need a Bachelor's degree in China for almost any career you choose, and the length of time it takes depends on your place of origin. A two-year degree or an associate's degree will not be recognized in China.

All Bachelor's degrees in China are now required to be validated. Due to the fact that many individuals were making phony degrees for use in China, this may have been the cause of this Once you've landed a job in China, your school or recruiter should assist you through the authentication procedure.

In order to teach English abroad, you must have a TEFL certificate.

A TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certificate, OR a teaching certification from your native nation, is required to teach in China. In China, TESOL certifications are acceptable, however most institutions are more acquainted with the TEFL certification.

To teach English in China, you'll need a 120-hour TEFL certification, which may be obtained in a variety of ways. You have the option of doing this through the Internet, in person, or even from another country! Just be certain that your TEFL training is recognized and acknowledged in China before you go ahead and enroll. Most respectable online TEFLs cost between $300 and $400, while in-person TEFLs may cost between $1,500 and $3,000.

CELTAs are the most well regarded TEFL qualifications in China. There is a commonly accepted belief that CELTA is the greatest and most respected TEFL certification available. Getting a CELTA is the best way to get certified to teach English overseas, but they may be rather expensive. So if you're thinking about making a career out of teaching English overseas, I recommend earning a CELTA after you've already spent a year or two doing so. You could even become a certified instructor, which would be much better!

You must have a clear criminal record.

The majority of employment in China will need a criminal background check from your home country, or your place of residency if you have been living abroad for more than a year or so. No matter how long you've been in China, you'll still require a visa from your native country.

In most countries, the criminal background check procedure takes just a few weeks (unless you're from South Africa, which will take a few months...). Because of this, certain Chinese cities may need a background check from the FBI if you are from the United States. The sooner you begin, the better, since this might take up to two months if you wait until the last minute.

Don't be alarmed if you've got a few tickets in the past. If you've ever had a criminal record or have served time in prison, a school is less likely to want you to work with children.

To be eligible, you must be under the Chinese retirement age of 65

Chinese schools are not permitted to recruit personnel older than the Chinese retirement age, which is now 65 years old (55 for women, 60 for men). Teaching in China has several bad laws, and this is one of the most regrettable is that there are so many qualified instructors who are a little too elderly. If you're approaching the age of 55 or 60, I recommend applying as soon as possible so that you may get your visa before then.