What degree do you need to teach in China?

Teaching English in China requires a bachelor's degree, although it does not have to be in English or teaching. The Chinese government simply requires a Bachelor's Degree in any area to be qualified to teach in China.

Here are some frequently asked questions concerning the type of degree required to work as a teacher in China:

What exactly is a Bachelor's Degree?

One of the most common forms of postsecondary education completed immediately after high school is the Bachelor's Degree. Depending on where you're from, it usually takes 3 or 4 years to get.

Is a Bachelor's Degree the only requirement for teaching in China?

It is conditional. If you want to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) in China, you will need a degree as well as a 120-hour TEFL certificate.

To teach in public schools or training facilities, you'll need a bachelor's degree and a TEFL certificate. If you don't have any prior work experience, most institutions will provide you with the necessary training to compensate.

As an alternative, you will be required to tick all of the boxes at most private and international schools and kindergartens across the world (degree, TEFL and experience). Newly certified teachers aren't often hired unless they've had some prior classroom experience.

In any case, if you want to legally teach in China, you must have a bachelor's degree.

A Z Visa, the only kind of visa that allows you to work in China, is required to be able to teach in China. The TEFL requirement may be waived if you have a degree in English literature. If you lack teaching experience, there are several occupations that do not need instructors to have extensive training.

A Bachelor's Degree is required for all Chinese teachers, regardless of where they work or what school or city they are employed in.

Can you teach LEGALLY in China if you don't have a degree?

In the most technical sense, holding a Bachelor's Degree is a condition for acquiring a working visa, and as you cannot teach in China without a working visa, you cannot teach without a degree. As easy as that!

The gist: The bad news is that you do need a Bachelor's Degree to teach in China, but the good news is that your specialty does not have to be connected to English or teaching.

CAUTION: A teaching internship is the only way to teach in China without a degree. This is the only legal way to teach without a degree, and although internships are usually short-term jobs, they may be a great teaching experience for young aspiring teachers, and you will be able to make enough money to live comfortably in certain situations.