Since 2014, the State Council has been making efforts to reduce the number of occupational qualification certificates needed to enter a certain sector as a certificated professional.

Some certificates were so redundant that they had become barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation.

Premier Li Keqiang once said certificates should not be a drag on employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, and a more relaxed environment should be available for talent.

So far, 70 percent of previously required occupational qualification certificates were eliminated, with only 151 certificates remaining, according to the a national list of occupation qualification certificates published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in December, 2016.

The State Council has taken some steps to eliminate occupational qualification certificates.

Certification based on laws and regulations

Premier Li Keqiang initially brought forward the idea of reducing administrative permission and certification of occupational qualification at a State Council executive meeting on June 4, 2014.

Since then, government departments are required to regulate permission and certification of occupational qualification on the basis of laws and regulations, and a system for evaluating occupational qualification is being established gradually.

In August that year, the State Council abolished 11 certifications in sectors such as real estate, taxation, and asset evaluation.

More relaxed environment for talent

In November 2014, the State Council decided to eliminate more certificates deemed redundant, in a bid to create a freer environment for employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

According to a State Council circular, 67 were abolished at that time, including certificates for corporate trainer and telecommunications correspondent.

Management and evaluation of occupational qualification

At the State Council executive meeting on Dec 12, 2014, a decision was made to cancel certificates for landscape designer and promote regulated management and evaluation of occupational qualification.

In addition, the State Council issued a circular in March of 2015 to further abolish 67 such certificates.

Establishing scientific occupational qualification system

The State Council continued their work in eliminating redundant certificates to promote reforms and stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation.

Sixty-two more certificates were eliminated, including those for internet advertisement agents and registered e-commerce traders.

Streamlining administrative certification

At the State Council executive meeting on Sept 16, 2015, a decision was made to abolish certificates for manicurists, calling for streamlining of administrative certification.

Further efforts to reduce occupational qualification certificates

According to the State Council executive meeting on Jan 13, 2016, further efforts would be made to eliminate 61 certificates, including for car salesman and human resources professional.

Significant measure for supply-side reform

Eliminating redundant occupational qualification certificates would be a significant measure to reduce institutional costs and promote supply-side structural reform, according to the State Council executive meeting on June 1, 2016.

The State Council then issued a circular to further eliminate 47 occupational qualification certificates.

Open occupational qualification list to the public

The occupation qualification list would be published, and 114 certificates, including those for temporary tour guide and restaurant waiter, would be cancelled, according to the State Council executive meeting on Nov 23, 2016.