● Understood as the effort by an occupational group to raise its collective

standing by taking on the characteristics of a profession. ( p 272)
● Professionalization needs to be distinguished from professionalism.
● Professionalism: Is the competence and effectiveness of workers
in their job performance.
● Professionalization occurs in occupation with considerable
heterogeneity (The quality of being diverse and not comparable in
kind.) in training and background of their members.
● It often takes the form of seeking to adopt the four hallmarks of the
professions to a greater or lesser extent, and it is usually initiated and
maintained by the leaders of the occupation.
PROCESS OF
PROFESSIONALIZATION
24
● Steps in Professionalizing: (p 272)
1. Forming an organization or strengthening an existing one.
2. Standardizing the body of knowledge that members of
occupation should have. (Developing courses or training and
most seek to locate training at universities.)
3. Convince the public that knowledge is important and only
graduates should be assumed to posses knowledge.
(Certification process or specify a credential requirement.)
4. Professionalizing occupations often adopt codes of ethics
and internal disciplinary procedures.
5. Autonomy and authority being achieved slowly. (p 274)
PROCESS OF
PROFESSIONALIZATION
25
● Obstacles of Professionalizing: (p 274)
1. Opposition of existing professions. The established professions
not only monopolize knowledge but are also gatekeepers for other
functions. (Physicians control access to prescription drugs.)
2. Professionals do not practice independently but work for a larger
organization. (Teachers, for example, are employed by school
boards, they control the curriculum.)
3. Public skepticism: Public tend to be skeptical about other
professions. (Some consumers have come to resent the
professions – take their advice with a grain of salt.) (p 275)
– This skepticism is one element of a counter-movement called
deprofessionalization.

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