Overview
A vocational skill level certificate (职业技能等级证书) shows that a worker has reached a recognised level in a skilled occupation. There is no single national exam date or paper. The assessment is run by approved employers and by social training and evaluation organisations (社会培训评价组织), each following the national occupational standard for the occupation.
This page describes the system as set out in three notices from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS): a 2018 pilot notice, a 2020 notice on enterprise-run assessment and a 2024 notice on tighter management. The exact papers, fees and dates depend on the occupation and the organisation, so use one chosen organisation as the source for those. Certificates that the state lists as occupational qualifications (职业资格) are a separate route and are not covered here.
Who can apply
The occupations covered are the skilled occupations and new occupations in the national occupational classification. Occupations whose licence is a mandatory entry requirement (准入类职业资格) were left out of the 2018 pilot.
Two kinds of body run the assessment, according to the 2024 notice:
Employers chosen and listed by the human resources and social security authorities assess their own staff, including agency-dispatched workers, against the national standard and their own evaluation specification.
Social training and evaluation organisations selected and listed by the authorities assess members of the public against the national standard.
Levels
The 2020 notice lists the five grades of the national skill standard.
| Grade | Name |
|---|---|
| Level 5 | Junior worker (初级工) |
| Level 4 | Intermediate worker (中级工) |
| Level 3 | Senior worker (高级工) |
| Level 2 | Technician (技师) |
| Level 1 | Senior technician (高级技师) |
Employers may set their own job grades on top of this structure, but must say how they map to the national levels.
Exam pattern
The 2018 notice says assessment looks at character, ability and performance. It checks whether the person can follow operating procedures, solve production problems and complete work tasks. This includes basic theory related to the job, technical requirements, laws and regulations, and safe-production and emergency procedures.
According to the 2024 notice, the assessment can be done either by an examination-style evaluation or by a review of work performance. Each organisation must publish its own rules for exam administration, quality control, certificate management and charges. The exact format and weighting are not set out in these notices.
After the exam
Certificates are issued by the evaluation organisation, in a format and with a numbering rule set by the Ministry.
Results can be checked in the national online system run by the MOHRSS vocational skill appraisal centre, according to the 2018 notice.
The authorities supervise organisations and can remove them from the list for breaking the rules. The 2024 notice says organisations must assess in their own locality.
Preparation tips
Choose an organisation that appears on your local human resources and social security authority's list, and ask it for the published assessment rules and fees.
Look up the national occupational standard for your occupation. The assessment is based on it.
Is there one national exam for this certificate?
No. Approved employers and evaluation organisations run the assessments under the national occupational standards, so timing, format and cost differ by occupation and organisation.
How many levels are there?
Five, from level 5 (junior worker) to level 1 (senior technician).