Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Engineer

1. Definition and Institutional Background

Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Engineer is an intermediate professional qualification under the national professional evaluation scheme for motor vehicle inspection and maintenance technical personnel. It forms the core of a three-tier career progression framework comprising Inspection and Maintenance Technician, Engineer, and Senior Engineer. The examination is administered under a unified national syllabus and standardized test-paper system, jointly organised and implemented by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Candidates who pass will be awarded the "Vocational Qualification Certificate for Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Professionals of the People's Republic of China", endorsed by both ministries and recognised nationwide with lifetime validity.

Listed in the "National Directory of Vocational Qualifications (2021 Edition)", it is one of China's 59 national professional technical qualifications and stands as the sole state-level vocational qualification in the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance industry.

2. Specialisations and Examination Subjects

The Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Engineer certification offers three professional specialisations, allowing candidates to select one based on their operational focus:

To attain the qualification, candidates must pass all three examination subjects within two consecutive examination years:

Each subject carries a maximum score of 100 marks, with a minimum passing mark of 60.

3. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must comply with relevant statutory regulations, uphold professional ethics, and satisfy at least one of the following requirements:

For applicants holding qualifications in non-engineering disciplines (e.g. Science, Management), the required working experience is increased by an additional 3 years.

Exemption Criteria: Individuals appointed as Assistant Engineers or Engineers in motor vehicle inspection and maintenance on or before 31 December 2005 are exempt from the "Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Practical Skills" subject.

4. Certification Value and Industry Application

Career Progression: Upon passing the examination, employers may directly appoint certificate holders to Engineer positions based on operational needs, substituting traditional title evaluations with examination results. Certified personnel gain a distinct competitive edge in recruitment, promotion, and technical leadership roles.

Policy Incentives:

• Special individual income tax deduction for continuing education (a fixed deductible allowance of RMB 3,600 in the year of qualification)

• Eligible for bonus points under points-based municipal residency schemes across multiple regions (e.g. 10 bonus points in Tianjin)

• Included in technical and skilled talent attraction directories in major cities like Guangzhou, facilitating direct urban residency applications

• Eligible to serve as an authorised signatory for motor vehicle roadworthiness testing centres to validate and endorse official inspection reports

Professional Competency: Certified engineers are expected to be well-versed in statutory standards, possess high-level diagnostic and technical repair capabilities, accurately troubleshoot faults, independently resolve complex technical challenges, and maintain a functional level of foreign language proficiency.

5. Registration and Examination Schedule

Registration Method: Candidates must register online via the Transport Vocational Qualification Website (www.jtzyzg.org.cn) under the "National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Professional Qualification Management Platform", adhering to the statutory declaration-and-commitment system.

2026 Examination Dates: 13 to 14 June.

Reference Examination Fees (Beijing Region): Theory examination RMB 140 (2 subjects), practical assessment RMB 62, totalling RMB 202.