professionalization

Professionalization, also called credentialism, is the social process by which any trade or occupation transforms itself into a true "profession of the highest integrity and competence." 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 qualified from unqualified amateurs. It creates an "occupational closure", closing the profession to entry from outsiders, amateurs and the unqualified.