First, figure out which professional series and level you belong to, then find the right application channels based on your employer type.

20. First, figure out which professional series and level you belong to, then find the right application channels based on your employer type.

Cost: No cost involved. It takes about half an hour to look up the latest application guidelines for your province.

In plain terms: There are 27 professional series nationwide, each divided into junior, intermediate, and senior levels. Generally, you must progress through these levels one by one. Employees working for organizations must have their applications reviewed and publicly posted by their employer before submission. Those working for private firms can apply via local professional qualification service centers, talent agencies, or industry associations. Self-employed individuals should apply through the local human resources and social security department.

Benefit: A total of 27 professional series exist across China, covering fields such as economics, engineering, healthcare, and publishing. These are categorized into senior, intermediate, and junior levels. Order No. 40 issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security applies to enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, individual economic entities, and self-employed professionals alike. Applicants must generally advance step by step through these levels. Employers must review all submitted materials and publicly display them for at least five working days. Private firms and self-employed individuals may opt to have talent agencies handle the review, public posting, and recommendation processes. Local authorities are required to establish professional qualification service centers in science parks and high-tech zones; applications may also be accepted through talent agencies, industry associations, and professional societies. Eligible self-employed individuals may participate in evaluations organized by local human resources departments. Any documentation that can be verified online must not require additional certification. If any materials are missing, evaluators must clearly specify what is lacking in one single notice. Employees of private firms typically apply in the region where their employment contract is based. Those assigned to work elsewhere for at least one full year may apply at their temporary duty location. Retired personnel are ineligible to apply. Public sector employees currently under disciplinary action at or above the level of a reprimand cannot apply during that period (nationwide).

Evidence grade: A

Sources: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China Order No. 40 (2019). Interim Provisions on the Management of Professional Title Evaluation. <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2019/content_5437137.htm>: Article 2, Article 13, Article 14, Article 15, Article 16, Article 17, Article 18; General Office of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China (2020). Notice on further improving the professional title work of private enterprises. <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2020-03/03/content_5486340.htm>: "Establish professional title application acceptance service points in entrepreneurial incubation bases, high-tech development zones, science and technology parks and other places with dense professional and technical talents, or through talent intermediary service agencies, federations of industry and commerce, industry associations and chambers of commerce, Social organizations such as societies accept applications for professional titles of professional and technical personnel from private enterprises. "If professional and technical personnel from private enterprises are assigned to work abroad for more than one consecutive year, they can apply for professional title review at the place of dispatch in accordance with relevant regulations." Xinhua News Agency (2024). Professional title review has reached its peak, how to check the information? What's new? <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/202410/content_6978917.htm>: "my country has a total of 27 professional title series in economics, engineering, health, publishing, etc." "Eligible freelancers can apply to participate in the professional title review organized by the local Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China based on the principle of territoriality"; General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, General Office of the State Council of China (2016). Opinions on deepening the reform of the professional title system. <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2017/content_5163445.htm>: "Thesis will not be used as a restrictive condition for evaluating applied talents", "There will be no unified requirements for foreign language and computer application ability examinations for professional titles", "Highly skilled talents who meet the conditions can participate in the professional and technical talent title review of the engineering series" and "Civil servants are not allowed to participate in the professional and technical talent title review"

Notes: No single nationwide list of required documents exists. Each professional series and province publishes its own annual application guidelines detailing necessary materials, deadlines, and performance criteria. Therefore, the first step is to search the official website of your provincial human resources department for the current year’s instructions. Publishing academic papers is no longer mandatory: a 2016 reform directive explicitly removed this requirement for practical professionals, and standardized language or computer proficiency tests are no longer mandatory either. Skilled technical workers may also qualify to apply for engineering-related professional titles. Government officials are prohibited from participating in such evaluations.