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Definition
A professional is a worker required to possess a large body of knowledge derived from extensive academic study (usually tertiary), with the training almost always formalized.
Professionals are at least to a degree self-regulating, in that they control the training and evaluation processes that admit new persons to the field, and in judging whether the work done by their members is up to standard. This differs from other kinds of work where regulation (if considered necessary) is imposed by the state, or where official quality standards are often lacking. Professions have some historical links to guilds in these regards.
Professionals usually have autonomy in the workplace—they are expected to utilize their independent judgement and professional ethics in carrying out their responsibilities. This holds true even if they are employees instead of working on their own. Typically a professional provides a service (in exchange for payment or salary), in accordance with established protocols for licensing, ethics, procedures, standards of service and training / certification.
The above definitions were echoed by economist and sociologist Max Weber, who noted that professions are defined by the power to exclude and control admission to the profession, as well as by the development of a particular vocabulary specific to the occupation, and at least somewhat incomprehensible to outsiders.
Therefore it would be appropriate to state that a 'true' professional must be proficient in all criteria for the field of work they are practising professionally in. Criteria to include following categories: 1. Highest Academic Qualifications ie University College/Institute 2. Expert and Specialised Knowledge in field which one is practising Professionally 3 Excellent manual/practical & literary skills in relation to Profession working in 4 High Quality work in either/or: {egs}: creations, products, services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research, administrative, marketing or other work endeavours 5 High Standard of Professional Ethics, Behaviour and Work Activities while carrying out one's Profession { as an employee, self-employed person, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague etc } ADDITIONAL WHERE APPROPRIATE: Reasonable amount of professional working experience in either/or of the above capacities in fields of work one has Professional Qualifications...
Trades
In narrow usage, not all expertise is considered a profession. Although sometimes referred to as professions, such occupations as skilled construction work are more generally thought of as trades or crafts. The completion of an apprenticeship is generally associated with skilled labor or trades such as carpenter, electrician, plumber, Bricklayer and other similar occupations. A related (though not always valid) distinction would be that a professional does mainly mental or administrative work, as opposed to engaging in physical work. Many companies include the word professional in their company name to signify the quality of their workmanship or service (e.g., Professional Plastics, Inc. "The Plastics Professionals").
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