The term professional refers to anyone who earns their living from performing an activity that requires a certain level of education, skill, or training. There is typically a required standard of competency, knowledge, or education that must be demonstrated (often in the form of an exam or credential), as well as adhering to codes of conduct and ethical standards.
Types of Professionals
There are many different types of professionals. Whether they are athletes or business people, there are many categories and groups, which are listed below.
Professional standards are a set of practices, ethics, and behaviors that members of a particular professional group must adhere to. These sets of standards are frequently agreed to by a governing body that represents the interests of the group.
Examples of professional standards include:
Accountability – takes responsibility for their actions
Confidentiality – keeps all sensitive information private and away from those who shouldn’t have access to it
Fiduciary duty – places the needs of clients before their own
Honesty – always being truthful
Integrity – having strong moral principles
Law-abiding – follows all governing laws in the jurisdictions they perform activities
Loyalty – remain committed to their profession
Objectivity – not swayed or influenced by biases
Transparency – revealing all relevant information and not concealing anything
Professional vs. Amateur
A professional performs an activity to earn a living and has demonstrated a certain level of competence or earned a credential, whereas an amateur performs an activity as a hobby, pastime, or without compensation.
Examples of amateurs include:
Amateur athletes
Amateur theater
Amateur photography
Designations
There are many examples of the types of designations that professionals must earn or choose to earn in carrying out their activities.