We live in a world of professional footballers, professional soldiers and doctors, lawyers, engineers and nurses amongst many others who describe themselves as professionals. What does this mean? Who are the true professionals? How is this status achieved? To whom and to what do true professionals owe responsibility?

A profession requires extensive training and the mastery of specialized knowledge. It often has a professional association or institution, a code of practice and a means for licensing. Examples are law, medicine, finance, the military, nursing, the clergy and engineering. The term 'professional' is often used for the acceptance of payment for an activity, in contrast to an amateur. However, the term 'professional' is also used to refer to practitioners who have a strong sense of service beyond their immediate client group (May 1985). Hence the Oxford Shorter Dictionary uses the term 'vocation' to define the term profession: 'A vocation, a calling, one requiring advanced knowledge or training in some branch of learning or science.'

To be a member of a profession is therefore to:

• Have specialized knowledge and skill.

• Have power the power of knowledge and the capacity to affect society.

• Have autonomy of practice. This varies according to employment context.

• Have a monopoly or near monopoly of a particular skill.

• Have undergone an extensive period of training that includes not simply skills, but a strong intellectual element.

• To be a member of a professional body that is responsible for regulating standards, protecting rights of practice...