Professional Association

You've heard about the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association, organizations that support and advocate for doctors and lawyers respectively. But did you know that virtually every profession has an association for meeting those same needs of support and advocacy?

Merriam-Webster Online defines a "profession" as "a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation," such as journalism, education, career counseling, computer programming, fundraising and sports coaches.

The professional association's purpose is to bring together individuals who work within the same profession for development of the profession itself as well as its individual members. A professional association typically provides certification or accreditation standards for a field, acts as advocates in the media and with government, promotes the profession to young people, provides training for career advancement and explains trends which are having an impact on the profession.

One of the most important services your professional association can offer you is networking. Through your professional association, you have access to practitioners with experience, advice, tools and contacts.

If you are in a profession or are thinking about entering one, find and join your professional association today. To find a professional association, contact your local Chamber of Commerce or look at American Society of Association Executives.

Here are just a few examples of professional associations:

• Professional Association for Human Resources
  
  
• International Association for Volunteer Administration
  
  
• Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association
  
  
• International Association of Business Communicators
  
  
• American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  
  
• Women Officers Professional Association
  
  

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