Will they give you documents for residence permit application or wokr visa application? As I know, you need to first get a work visa to go to China, then change it into residence permit, if you have obtained work visa and stay in China now, the exam certificates are not required, generally speaking, the Photocopy of Applicants' Educational qualification or Professional qualification or exam certificates are required when your employer applies for work permit for you.

Thanks. I need to apply first for the Z visa and i have all the documents except my occupation professional certificate. My future boss says i wont need it because he has the license to hire ex pats, and he did not need to show it when he applied for his work visa. I guess i will try and get it without my certificate, but if they ask me for my certificate i will have to apply for a replacement

If you find a job in china:
1.you can apply a "L" visa in the chinese embassy or consulate in your country,and then come to china with it ,when you get to china,you can convert your "L" visa to "z" visa without leaving china.
2.Just like your company may be doing now,your company help your get a "employment license" and send to you ,with it you can get a temporary "Z" visa in England,and then you can come to china with the temporary "Z" visa,when you are in china ,you can convert it to a normal "z" visa.

Hope it will help you!more information you can e-mail me!