Employment & Prof. Development

Is someone able to teach in China without a degree? Is it only allowed in certain regions of China? Which places aren't affected by the SAFEA?

I had an interest in teaching in Jiangsu or Zhejiang.

Yes, you can teach oral English in China without a degree. This possibility is not determined by region but by school type.

Take a close look at Teaching Qualifications in Practice and School Types.

Also, conduct a search on “qualifications” for even more information.

Thank you! I will take a look at those!

I was mainly curious because I read this article and it made it seem like unless you had a degree and TEFL certificate, you'd get into a lot of trouble in China.

Foreigners risk running into trouble with the law when they are living or working in China illegally. You can have two PhDs and three teaching certificates but if you entered China on a tourist visa and are currently earning income with same, you are technically working here illegally.

The SAFEA guidelines are advisory only. Each province is free to interpret and implement those guidelines as they wish. Most foreigners working at private English language schools do not have a bachelor's degree but may very well still be working in China legally.

So, as long as you have a Z-visa, everything is okay?

In the article I read "illegal teaching institution" are getting in trouble for having unqualified teachers, but if those requirements aren't necessary than what is making these "illegal teaching institution" illegal? I'm very interested in working in China, but I don't want to do it illegally.

The article you had previously quoted was translated from a Chinese article written for a Chinese audience.

Private schools must be licensed by the local government as a school and must also be licensed by the SAFEA to hire foreign experts. This process generally takes several years to complete. Consequently, most new private English language schools are technically operating illegally and can only employ foreign teachers who are either living here illegally on tourist visas or have a Z-visa and residency permit from another legitimate employer.

What typically happens is that such schools (through their foreign affair officers, Western lackeys, and especially recruiters) will encourage prospective foreign teachers to arrive in China on a tourist visa, falsely asserting that doing is "perfectly legal" or under the false promise that the tourist visa will be converted to a Z-visa and residency permit after arrival. For the most part that never happens and the foreign teacher finds him or herself here for the duration working illegally.

If you enter China to earn income on a Z-visa then, yes, you would be teaching in China legally. If a particular province or municipality has decided that its foreign teachers do not need college degrees or TEFL certificates, then so be it.

What you need to watch out for is that some unscrupulous private language schools--operating in municipalities that will only issue a work permit to teachers with college degrees--will take it upon themselves to produce a fake (Photoshopped) degree on behalf of the foreign teacher. Obviously, any school that actively engages in this practice regards its foreign teachers will complete disdain and disregard. You can expect to be treated like an indentured servant by such a school.

I cannot echo what Dr Greg has said enough. When I arrived in November '09 I stupidly arrived on an L-visa under the false pretense that it would be converted when I had arrived, which never materialised. Then you have to do regular visa runs to Hong Kong to get a new L-visa just so you don't overstay, and you are still working illegally. You regularly hear schools promising they will sort it for you, and they never do--they will sometimes tell you that you have to pass a probationary period first.

I am in this exact Catch-22 at present as many schools will not hire me without a working visa, but are also unable/ unwilling to get me one themselves meaning I have to do most of my work freelance and tutoring privately. This is not a bad arrangement financially, but is still illegal.

You can teach legally in China without a degree but I will tell you one thing: it is difficult to do this in Guangdong province as the government's minimum requirements tend to be enforced, especially when the government decides to have a sporadic crackdown, like during the recent Asian games.

P.S. Dr Greg, could you please look at my recent topic "getting a work visa on a tourist visa" on Ken's page and give me your input, it would be much appreciated.

Alex,

I know there are plenty of foreign teachers working legally for private schools in Guangzhou without the benefit of a bachelor's degree. Are you saying this is not the case in Shenzhen? All foreign teachers at private schools in SZ have a minimum of a bachelor's degree?

I'll take a look at your last post but, the truth is, Headmaster Ken is the real visa expert around here.

What i am saying is that in Shenzhen not many people that I have met actually live and work here legally, working on L & F visas is very common here. Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that even international schools have had to doctor CV's (make the applicant look like he/she has more experience than they really have) to make sure they get the visa application approved and use of photoshopped degrees is absolutely rife. I have heard this even from school owners and head foreign teachers who run their respective departments.

In my opinion these are worrying times, and it seems to me like getting the valid documents is proving to be very very difficult indeed. I know well over 50 foreign teachers in SZ, and I am absolutely certain that the amount of those people who have a valid residence permit is less than 20%. Lots of schools in Shenzhen SAY they can get you the correct documents, but in practice its a completely different story.