A:Someone doesn't count ...  Potential employer/Z visa sponsor will tell you that.Never mind, I just point that out.Your previous working experience can be considered, but it should be at STEM or at least at English teaching.Now, if employer wants you really bad, they'll skip that part and proceed with 'Working Permit' application issued by the .gov.School must convince .gov to issue a Working Permit. Once you have that, you'll proceed with Z visa application at Chinese Embassy in your home country. The other matter you should consider is a Native English passport requirement.You can score Z visa as a non-native English teacher only if/when you hold a degree completed in a native English country (UK, USA, Canada, Ozz, New Zealand, S. Africa or Ireland, I think.) ... and many employers are not aware of that, so make sure, you point that out on your CV! ... if you hold BA from a native English country ... ... and if you don't hold BA degree completed in a native English country, you don't qualify for a Z visa, i.e. you can forget about legally working in China as a non-English native E.T..This is an old Chinese Labour law provision ... since 2009 or even earlier ... -- icnif77