Notice of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Publishing the National Professional Qualification Catalog
To the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and to all ministries, commissions, and directly affiliated institutions of the State Council:
In accordance with the State Council's deployment to streamline administration, delegate powers, combine regulation and service, and optimize services, and to further strengthen supervision and services for the establishment and implementation of vocational qualifications, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has formulated the National Vocational Qualification Catalog. With the consent of the State Council, it is hereby published.
Establishing the National Vocational Qualification Catalog is an important measure for transforming government functions, deepening reforms of the administrative approval system and talent development mechanisms, and promoting mass entrepreneurship and innovation. Establishing a public, scientific, and standardized vocational qualification catalog helps clarify the scope of government-managed vocational qualifications, address excessive and redundant qualifications, and lower barriers to employment and entrepreneurship. It also helps further streamline non-compliant examinations, evaluations, training, certificate issuance, and related activities, reduce burdens on talent, improve the scientific and standardized management of qualification establishment, sustainably stimulate creativity among market entities, and advance supply-side structural reform.
The State shall incorporate vocational qualifications into the National Vocational Qualification Catalog according to prescribed conditions and procedures, implement list-based management, and ensure that outside the Catalog no vocational qualification is licensed or certified. Within the Catalog, except for entry qualifications, qualifications shall not be linked to employment or entrepreneurship. The Catalog shall be subject to public supervision, remain relatively stable, and be dynamically adjusted. Entry qualifications may be established only for occupations (job types) that concern public interests or involve national security, public safety, personal health, or life and property safety, and must be based on laws, regulations, or decisions of the State Council. Competency evaluation qualifications may be established only for occupations (job types) with strong professionalism and broad social applicability, relatively high technical and skill requirements, and genuine needs for industry management and talent development. In the future, the establishment, cancellation, inclusion in, or removal from the Catalog of vocational qualifications shall be evaluated and justified by experts organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security together with relevant departments of the State Council. Newly established vocational qualifications shall comply with the Notice of the State Council on Strictly Controlling the Establishment of New Administrative Licenses (Guofa [2013] No. 39) and, after public opinions are widely solicited, be submitted to the State Council for approval according to procedures. Human resources and social security departments shall strengthen supervision and management. Localities and departments shall not establish national vocational qualifications outside the Catalog without approval, and shall strictly avoid carrying out qualification licensing and certification outside the Catalog. They shall firmly prevent abolished qualifications from being revived. Any qualification matters established or implemented in violation of laws and regulations shall be investigated and handled strictly. Industry associations, societies, other social organizations, enterprises, and public institutions may independently conduct competency evaluation activities according to market needs, but shall not conduct disguised qualification licensing and certification. Certificates shall not use words such as ******* , China, Chinese, National, Nationwide, Vocational Qualification, or Personnel Qualification, or the national emblem. If qualification holders cause major negligence due to insufficient professional competence, the units responsible for licensing and certification shall also bear corresponding responsibility.
Implementing management under the National Vocational Qualification Catalog is an important and complex systematic task. All localities and departments must attach high importance to it, make careful arrangements, organize meticulously, ensure smooth coordination, guarantee smooth implementation of the Catalog, and ensure stable transition of related work. They shall continuously consolidate and expand the achievements of vocational qualification reform, provide quality services to all types of talent and employers, and make greater contributions to sustained healthy economic and social development.