Job Discussion Forums

[dogUNLEASHED]

What does a person need to teach legally in China? And how long does it take to get each document.

I already have my diploma, sealed transcripts, and my passport ready. Do I need a criminal background check? If so, is it a local, state, or federal one? Does it have to be apostailled? And is there anything else?

[cormac]

Medical exam probably...

[dogUNLEASHED]

[tin man]

I recently sent my paperwork via scanned email so they could process the docs that the school sent me to obtain the visa at the USA embassy.

Have the school send you the forms for the medical exam. Moreover, you will need to get a police clearance from your local police dept.

I don't believe you will need sealed transcripts for China.

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

I brought a serious amount of transcripts when I came, and basically received a muted "thank you." What they really wanted was the diploma itself [insert comment here.] Although I would never trust a diploma in the US, this is what they said immigration authorities wanted. [It is worth noting that even my credential is not enough in California: there is a state education website that acts to verify it, which frankly saves time and effort for everybody.] If you can find it, bring the original of the diploma as well. [Hong Kong authorities also wanted to see the real thing, but didn't appear to care if it was only a scanned copy as long as I provided sealed transcripts.] I was never asked to bring/perform criminal checks though.

Edit: saw that the OP mentioned already having the diploma. oops. Preaching to the choir.

[hot_water_hillbilly]

There may be some minor variations depending on location. However, in Shandong province it's quite simple:

Resume
Contract
Passport
Degree
English Training Certificate
Health Clearance

That's it. Few Chinese jurisdictions require a criminal record check and I know of none that ask for transcripts.

[Teatime of Soul]

You need to have your documents processed at the Chinese Embassy/consulate, not USA.

You'll need:

Visa application for sure,


possibly medical exam (you can download both from Chinese Embassy web site.

Copy of Diploma and any ESL certifications.

Resume/CV

[Miles Smiles]

Let's back up here. A diploma isn't worth much in PRC. A degree is required. There's a difference.

A diploma is awarded upon the completion of a BASIC set of skills and the acquisition of the MINIMUM basic academic and theoretical knowledge.

A diploma may require a course of study for as short as one month to as long as a year. Many times the course of study addresses how in which a person would handle situations that are typical and specific to the area studied. For example, a diploma in accounting probably would not include statistics but would prepare the student to be a book keeper.

A degree such as a BA or a BS, on the other hand, emphasizes academics and includes subjects separate from the area of study in which the student is interested. For example, a student studying for a BSN (nursing) would take courses that pertain specifically to nursing as well as business math and humanities courses such as English composition and literature.

If the OP has a diploma, it might require him a few more years in school in order to work a job in China that requires bona fide degrees.

[AGoodStory]

Miles, people frequently use the word "diploma" to refer to the piece of paper that states you have completed any of a number of educational programs, including various degree programs. Of course you can use the word in the way you are defining it (differentiating between diploma programs and degree programs; you could add certificate programs as well.) But I don't think this is how the word was being used on this thread.

Definition from Answers.com: diploma n. A document issued by an educational institution, such as a university, testifying that the recipient has earned a degree or has successfully completed a particular course of study

[Teatime of Soul]

Correct. China employers want to see your College/University diploma, the "sheepskin".

Any employer I know of in the west would ask for transcripts, but here, simply a copy of the diploma suffices.

[Miles Smiles]

In the academic world, a distinction IS made. Go to was western university and ask if the school awards degrees or diplomas. The university will tell you that it awards degrees.

Go to a one-year college and ask whether the institution issues a diploma or a degree, and you will be told that it issues diplomas.

Those who actually have university degrees SHOULD know that there is a difference between the two and that academia does make a distinction. Having taught in both levels of western academia, I know the distinction between the two.

I apologize for not knowing that some other forum members don't know this.

I have never been asked by any school for a copy of my diploma.

I have observed that FTs who say that their employers asked for copies of their diplomas also claim that their employers asked for copies of their transcripts.

[dogUNLEASHED]

Thanks for all the info, guys.

I do have a four year degree. I was just referring to the piece of paper representing the degree as the diploma.

[Teatime of Soul]

Miles Smiles:

[piglet44]

Do you send your PASSPORT to them???
I would not want to part with mine. Isn't it enough to send a photocopy?
can't they forge it or something?

[icwood]

Other than a good recruiter who knows what he is talking about and speaks a little English? Only a signed contract, teaching reference letter, completed official medical form and post-secondary school diploma.