BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Education Friday announced the postponement of the teacher certification examination to the second half of the year over coronavirus concerns.

The exam for primary and secondary school teachers, originally scheduled for the first half of the year, will be held together with the exam in the latter half of the year, according to an MOE statement.

Applicants that have already registered and paid for the exam can either shift their applications to the second half of the year or request a refund.

The teacher qualification accreditation work in the first half of the year will be carried out in provincial-level regions contingent on their local epidemic control situations, said the statement.

According to a circular recently issued by the country, newly recruited teachers of elementary, secondary and secondary vocational schools as well as kindergartens are not restricted to holders of teacher's certificates until the end of this year.

College graduates who are eligible to apply for the teacher certification examination and have professional competence can be employed as teachers before attending the exam, the circular said.