Before paying for a certificate, check the national qualifications catalogue and registered assessment bodies
Some Chinese providers use labels such as “new occupation” or “skill grade” to charge unauthorized fees and issue dubious certificates; some impersonate recognized institutions. The human resources ministry has run a campaign against these practices. Before enrolling, check the occupation's status in the National Vocational Qualifications Catalogue, whether the issuer is a registered assessment body, and whether certificate numbers can be verified on the official platform. An unrecognized certificate can make the registration fee a waste.
What it takes
Nothing. Allow ten or fifteen minutes for the checks.
What you may gain
China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security organized a nationwide campaign against organizations arbitrarily conducting training, assessment, and certification under new-occupation qualification or skill-grade labels, charging improper fees, issuing certificates indiscriminately, making false or exaggerated claims, or impersonating authoritative organizations. Measures included joint enforcement with cyberspace, public security, and market regulation authorities and action against bodies impersonating appraisal organizations or assessment bodies registered with human resources authorities. Noncompliant promotional websites and new-media accounts could be closed in accordance with law. The notice also called for public guidance on certificate lookup methods and on assessing certificates' legitimacy, compliance, and practical value.
Context & considerations
Check in this order. First, see whether the occupation is in the National Vocational Qualifications Catalogue; a credential outside it is not a national vocational qualification. Next, check whether the issuing body is registered with the human resources authorities. Finally, verify the certificate number on the official skilled-worker assessment certificate platform. The source recommends avoiding programs whose claimed official certificates cannot be verified. Be particularly wary of labels such as “international,” “advanced,” and “registered,” and promises of guaranteed passes or income from lending out your credentials.
Research & references
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (2022). Notice on a special campaign against counterfeit technical and vocational skills certificates. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-03/18/content_5679641.htm