What makes a profession?

Is development a profession? This question is not easily answered and would benefit from a thorough study of the practice, educational achievement and attitudes of those in the field.

"Professional" has many meanings in the English language. For some people a professional is paid, while

Professional has also come to mean expert. We speak of a truck driver who handles the truck like a pro, or a plumber who is very professional. In this usage the golfer or house painter is highly skilled in the execution of the activity or trade. [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

Development writers and speakers often describe development officers as professionals engaged in a profession. In this context the term combines the sense of a paid activity done expertly by the development practitioner. This definition of professional as a paid expert touches on a rich vein of meaning that goes beyond these basic understandings.

A complete examination of the term reveals a variety of meanings that go beyond the definition of a paid expert. The expanded meanings challenge our understanding, and provide clear guidelines for understanding and practice. An extensive study of the varied meanings of the term was completed by Hannah Dean in her doctoral dissertation, "The Examination of Outcomes: An Evaluation of an Innovative Professional Curriculum." In this study of registered nurses, Dean reviewed the literature on professionalism and identified six common characteristics of professions.

Dean's review revealed that occupations fall on a continuum that range from amateur to professional. Placement on the continuum is determined by the occupation's degree of adherence to six basic features: autonomy, commitment, collegiality, extensive education, service orientation, and special skills and knowledge. These make up the acronym: ACCESS.

1. The first characteristic of a professional is autonomy. Autonomy is the individual professional's right and responsibility to practice and make decisions within the scope of the profession. "A true professional...is never hired. He (sic.) is retained, engaged, consulted, by someone who needs his services. He, the professional, has or should have almost complete control over what he does for the client." (Everett C. Hughes, "Daedalus: The Professions In America," Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1965).