Does the school say where you should go to get your health certificate?

i searched a bit and it says you need to go to this department : 湖南省出入境检验检疫局. Maybe get someone to call them to confirm it's the right place you need to go?

I believe you better do it before applying for the Z visa, should you be required to have it at hand.  Hope this time you will make it to your next teaching carrier. 

I had to get one before my Z visa. As well as the few other teachers I've met. I thought that it was standard. Guess they don't want people with diseases teaching, or they at least want to know what diseases you have, if any. Makes sense to me.

BTW, the test is very easy, you don't have to get naked, no cough cough, no anal probing.

Well, I am from India, and as per requirement, I needed to get my X-ray (to rule out tuberculosis), ECG (to rule out cardiac disease?), HIV (to not allow HIV positive individuals enter China) and VDRL (for syphilis) done along with the physical examination form. The form was required to be filled at a local Government hospital verifying that I am disease-free.

Ofcourse, the Chinese Govt. does not want disease to be transmitted to their citizens, hence these tests.

Medical Exam Certificate, not older than 6 months is required for Z visa.

I suggest, you get it done in China, before you're going to HK, because it is cheaper than in HK.

You can get Medical form from HK Chinese Embassy web site. Show it at the Hospital, and they will perform necessary exams. 

Last September, I did 'everything' at HK Embassy, and when I expected officer will ask me for my passport, she asked me for Medical Exam Certificate. That was almost another week of 'work' before I got Z.

In HK, Medical exam cost around HK $2200. Two years earlier, same exam cost me only 400 Rmb in Anshan, Liaoning.

Yup as far as I know a health certificate has always been required for a new Z visa though they won't ask for it if you are just renewing one.  It is legit, just go do it. 

No, it is not required to get a medical exam before getting a Z visa. You just need your invitation letter as the most important thing. It is when you arrive in China on your Z visa that a medical exam is required to obtain your Resident Permit. (Which your school will pay for.)

Getting a medical exam in your home country is very expensive so it's huge waste of money.

Dear all, a new working visa application process:  employment permit --invitation letter--temporary Z visa--work permit--residence permit. in the first step of the application (to obtain employment permit) need to ready a lot of paper document from foreigner and employer. one of the require document is the copy of Medical certificate--always require be issued by special hospital; and in the last two application steps, they will require the original Medical certificate then.

That's strange. I remember having to get one after I arrived and then again every year after that when I had to renew it. Can you get one in China, or are they going to make you leave.