WHATISAPROFESSION? Aprofession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and uphold themselves to and are accepted by the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognized body of learning derived from research, education, and training at a high level, and who are prepared to exercise this knowledge and these skills in the interest of others. There are also three widely and commonly recognized characteristics of a profession: study and training, measure of success, and associations.