Can non-native speakers of English find English teaching jobs in China?

Mark Wang is entirely correct (I voted him up, actually). There's still a great deal of prejudice against, for instance, Asian-Americans (among others), even if English is their first language and they have the necessary credentials and work experience. Not too long ago, I worked as a media and web guy (and teacher) for a company that recruited teachers for schools and English programs in China, and we had great difficulty placing Americans of Chinese descent in particular (people who wanted to "re-connect" with their heritage via working overseas). One gentleman from San Francisco had advanced degrees in Education and many years experience teaching and developing curriculum in American schools, but he was repeatedly rejected because administrators in China (they would tell us this very directly, in fact) felt they couldn't sell a Chinese-looking teacher to Chinese parents. My company had to issue a policy paper to our partners in China explaining that this kind of practice violates American law and is against our code of ethics. It's also completely absurd if your primary concern is quality English education, but that's another matter. We made some effort to sway minds, and met with some minor success, but it was certainly and uphill battle. Like many things in China, perception is everything. Your status as a non-native speaker of English is also a disadvantage. Chinese schools are much pickier now, and for good reason. There was a time in the late 80s, 90s and early 2000s when almost anyone could get a job teaching English with little more than a passport from an English-speaking country as verification of one's qualifications. Subsequently, many backpackers with no teaching skills took advantage of the system, bounced around the country, took higher than average salaries, all of which frequently led to poor (or just plain shitty) teaching, unfulfilled contracts, and, of course, claims of sexual abuse of students. It's much harder now because the Chinese got their shit together and realized 1.) they can train up their own English teachers via teacher-training programs and thus avoid having to rely on a crappy pool of foreign applicants, 2.) a crap economy in the United States and elsewhere in the West will eventually result in a bunch of educated Millennials desperate for something to do that can bolster their resumes until they find full-time employment, and Chinese schools can be there to offer them refuge in the classroom 3.) established and respected educational institutions, universities, and nonprofits in the UK, Canada, the States, and Australia will and have formed strategic partnerships with China and thus can serve as filters for identifying quality teachers, and 4.) no superpower (and China wants nothing more than to be a superpower) would take this crap, so, you know, guys, don't come knocking on my door without your propers, ya dig?  This means you now pretty much have to have a four-year degree (in English or Education), experience, and all that to be considered in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chongqing, and all the other "desirable" metros in China. All that said, I have no doubts there are some schools in outlying or rural areas that would still gladly take you on. You might even find a way into the cities, especially if you're willing to work at some of the many early-education companies that proliferate the urban scene. But that means singing songs to toddlers and working long days under the leadership of an office manager who's primary concern is straight cash, homie, and not education. Those dudes can be major despotic dickheads, let me tell you. I worked for at least two of them in my day. Good fucking riddance! Be mindful, also, of age restrictions (I think anything north of 65 is frowned upon) and other prejudices like disability or marital status (don't let lao wai men steal our women!) or ethnicity (try not to be black while you're trying not to be Asian, too). God bless you, also, if you're homely, my friend, because they don't like that much either (be prepared to include a photo in your application materials, and for a news crew to suddenly show up in your classroom while your teaching a lesson - WTF?!).  They're in the catbird seat now, the Chinese schools and programs, but the law hasn't quite caught up to the development of the education industry. Xenophobia, in all its many manifestations, is still a major problem. PS. Have you considered finding work as a teacher in your native tongue? China is doing business everywhere in the world (everywhere!). English is the most popular language, to be sure, but I understand more and more schools are looking to provide language learning opportunities in Spanish and Arabic. Not sure if that's your background or not, but it's worth doing some research. Everything I just said is complete bullshit if you have (drum roll please) GUANXI! Guanxi is so goddamn complicated and nuanced and fluid it makes string theory seem quaint, in my opinion, so I won't even venture a description here. Needless to say, it's all about who you know. If you've got connections somewhere, you can pretty much do whatever you want. Remember this: "Tiān gāo, huángdì yuÇŽn." (Heaven is high and the emperor is far away.) Hope this is helpful. I encourage you to consult with other teachers, as well. It's been a few years since I taught in China, so there's a strong chance that some of my data is unreliable. Things move so quickly, you know.

Yes, although you'll need to demonstrate you are skilled enough and possibly require higher qualifications, e.g. Master's level or a Diploma in TESOL. Some employers are gradually getting rid of non-native teachers, especially those with noticeable accents, by simply letting their contracts run out and not renewing. Conversely though, the industry is growing which means more teachers. And there aren't enough good native ones to go around. Ultimately, if you are a good teacher, people won't care. My company has employed people from all over. If you are a poor or average teacher though, they have a convenient ready-made excuse to tell you its not working out. Note though, that visa restrictions in major cities are making it harder and harder for people from non-Anglophone countries to get teaching jobs here. You will likely have to go to a lower tier city.

Yes, you can. I am doing the same right now. I am a non-native speaker, but I am well qualified to teach the language. And yes, being Caucasian is apparently essential.

Andy you're wrong. The only thing they want is white faces NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. Qualifications? Nationality? Experience? Doesn't matter they will ALWAYS hire the white person even if there is a Chinese, African American, Indian with a Phd and 10 years teaching experience.

English Teaching Jobs in China has different requirements, so not everyone will qualify for every position. Those who wish to apply must have these minimum qualifications:1.Bachelor’s degree:That’s a four year degree from the US and Canada and usually three years in the UK and Australia. A graduate degree might open more doors for you, but only if it’s a TEFL or education related degree.2. Internationally recognized TEFL, CELTA, or TESOL certification3.Teaching Experience4.Native English SpeakerNon-native speakers should also consider their other strengths. English is a valuable skill in China—in many professions, not just education. Most of the foreign workers in China who have struck it rich have done so through international business. China is the world’s factory, and there is always room for more trade. If one can speak English and another language besides Chinese, then that person has a great opportunity to work for an international company. You can find some Non-Teaching jobs in http://jobs.echinacities.com/?fromat=120 ,http://www.51jobs.com, http://www.zhaopin.com and other online job boards in China.

Depends where you go. In Shanghai, I'm guessing you need to be a native teacher. But right now I teach at the 5 top University in China but it's in a crappy city, in a poorer province and they seem to hire anyone with a pulse. We have teachers here from Russia, Poland, Chinese-Singapore, Chinese-Americans, Philippines and even India! There's even a guy from the states who shakes and stutters but the pay is VERY low and they are probably more desperate to find teachers willing to come here. In Shanghai the competition is stiffer and salary higher so just take that into account when applying.