Being Recognised as a Professional in the Industry
A
professional body is an organisation that exists to further a particular
profession, to protect both the public interest and the interests of
professionals. On the one hand, professional bodies act to protect the public
by maintaining and enforcing standards of training and ethics in their
profession.
Membership of a professional body does not necessarily mean
that a person possesses qualifications in the subject area, nor that they
are able to practice their profession unless they have a Designation which is
proof that they have been assessed through the Board Exam and are continuously
maintaining their professional development.
These designated
professionals are more sought after and have a higher Employability
Index.
A professional body seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession, and the public interest.
The roles of these professional bodies have been variously defined: "A
group of people in a learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining
control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;"...
also a body acting "to safeguard the public interest;"...
organisations which "represent the interest of the professional
practitioners," and so "act to maintain their own privileged and
powerful position as a professional body."...
Such bodies generally strive to achieve a balance between these two often conflicting mandates. Though professional bodies often act to protect the public by maintaining and enforcing standards of training and ethics in their profession, they often also act like a trade union for the members of the profession.