Chapter 3 of the Teachers' Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) clearly states:
Chapter 3 Qualifications and Appointment
Article 10 The state implements a system of teacher qualifications.
Chinese citizens who abide by the Constitution and the laws, love the cause of education, have good moral character, possess the academic qualifications prescribed by this Law or have passed the national teacher qualification examination, and have the ability to teach and be recognized as qualified, may obtain teacher qualifications.
Article 11 The corresponding academic qualifications that should be possessed for obtaining teacher qualifications are:
(1) for obtaining kindergarten teacher qualifications, graduation from kindergarten teacher-training schools and above;
(2) for obtaining elementary school teacher qualifications, graduation from secondary teacher-training schools and above;
(3) for obtaining junior middle school teacher, junior vocational school cultural and professional course teacher qualification, shall have a higher teacher training college or other university specialist graduation and above;
(d) to obtain senior middle school teacher qualification and secondary specialized school, technical school, vocational high school cultural and professional course teacher qualification, shall have a higher teacher training college or other university undergraduate graduation and above; to obtain secondary specialized school, Technical schools and vocational high schools, student internship instructor qualification should have the academic qualifications, by the State Council administrative department of education regulations;
(e) to obtain higher education teacher qualifications, should have a postgraduate or undergraduate degree;
(f) to obtain the qualifications of teachers of adult education, according to the level of adult education, category, respectively, with higher, secondary school graduation and its above academic qualifications.
Citizens who do not possess the academic qualifications for teacher qualification stipulated in this Law and who apply for obtaining teacher qualification must pass the national teacher qualification examination. The national teacher qualification examination system shall be prescribed by the State Council.
Article 12 Teachers who were already teaching in schools or other educational institutions before the implementation of this Law and who do not possess the academic qualifications stipulated in this Law shall be subject to the transitional measures for teachers' qualifications prescribed by the administrative department for education under the State Council.
Article 13 The qualifications of teachers of primary and secondary schools shall be recognized by the administrative departments of education of the local people's governments at or above the county level. The qualifications of teachers of secondary specialized schools and technical schools shall be determined by the educational administrative departments of the local people's governments at or above the county level organizing the competent authorities concerned. The qualifications of teachers in ordinary schools of higher education shall be recognized by the State Council or the administrative departments of education of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, or by the schools entrusted by them.
If a citizen who possesses the academic qualifications prescribed in this Law or who has passed the national teacher qualification examination requests the relevant department to recognize his or her teacher qualification, the relevant department shall do so in accordance with the conditions prescribed in this Law.
There shall be a probationary period when a person who has obtained a teaching qualification takes up teaching for the first time.
Article 14 A person who has been deprived of his political rights or who has been subjected to criminal punishment of fixed-term imprisonment or more for an intentional crime shall not be qualified to teach; and a person who has already been qualified to teach shall lose his qualification to do so.
Article 15 Graduates of teacher-training schools at all levels shall be engaged in teaching in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
The State encourages graduates of non-teaching colleges and universities to teach in primary and secondary schools or vocational schools.
Article 16 The State shall implement a system of teaching posts, the specific measures of which shall be prescribed by the State Council.
Article 17 Schools and other educational institutions shall gradually implement a system of appointment of teachers. The appointment of teachers shall follow the principle of equality of status between the two parties, and the appointment contract shall be signed by the school and the teacher, clearly stipulating the rights, obligations and responsibilities of both parties.
The steps and methods for the implementation of the appointment system for teachers shall be prescribed by the administrative department of education under the State Council.