What Is a Profession?

What Is a Profession? What about certain classes of work makes them distinguished as “professions”? It is common today to refer to almost all sorts of employment as “professional”; from tradespeople to neurosurgeons, is there no distinction? Clearly some forms of work can be distinguished from others and merit the claim as “professional.” One clear measure of professionalism is public sanction through licensure. Ostensibly the reason for licensure of a particular skill or set of skills by a public authority is to protect the public health and safety and the environment. The government has a duty to protect citizens from harm.1,2 Licensure requires the candidate to meet some test demonstrating some benchmark of a minimal degree competence in the skills required to practice the form of work being tested. In some states and some cases licensure may be given provided the candidate provides a demonstration of acceptable past work or licensure in another state. In either case it is assumed that the licensed professional meets the threshold of minimal competence to practice the specific occupation.