Describe the process of professionalization What is the diff

Describe the process of professionalization. What is the difference between a profession and an occupation?

Solution

Professionalization is the social process by which any trade or occupation transforms itself into a true profession. This process tends to involve establishing acceptable qualifications, a professional body or association to oversee the conduct of members of the profession, and some degree of demarcation of the qualifiedfrom unqualified amateurs. The professionalization process tends to establish the group norms of conduct and qualification of members of a profession and tends also to insist that members of the profession abide with the established procedures and any agreed code of conduct.

Occupation vs Profession

The words occupation and profession are interchangeable. Profession and occupation are almost the same, with only minor differences between them.

The difference between occupation and profession can be stated with a simple example: Designing a building would be called a profession, whereas, constructing a building is an occupation.

A profession needs extensive training and specialized knowledge. On the other hand, an occupation does not need any extensive training. A person with an occupation need not have specialized knowledge of his trade.

A profession can be called an occupation when a person is paid for his particular skills, and his deep knowledge. Doctors, engineers, advocates, journalists, scientists, and many others, fall under the professional category. On the other hand, persons engaged in an occupation are not paid for their knowledge, but only for what they produce. Drivers, clerks and technicians fall under the category of occupation.

Unlike a person engaged in an occupation, a professional has to undergo higher education. It is noticeable that a profession tends to be autonomous. When considering responsibilities, a profession demands that the resonsibility lies with the individual. Moreover, only a professional will be able to assess fellow professionals. In regards to an occupation, no one has autonomous power; he or she is supervised by another person. Moreover, any person can make asseessments, as this type of work does not require high degrees of knowledge and skill.

Well, professionals enjoy a higher social status than a person engaged in an occupation. Another difference that can be seen between profession and occupation, is that the former is guided through certain ethical codes, and is regulated by a certain statute.