Re: Professional or Not (was Database Design)

J Alex wrote:

> The careers you mention are not really self-regulating. They're government
> regulated. If you practice medicine without a license, the penalty isn't
> losing your status, it's jail.

You are partially correct and partially incorrect. I consult for some medical board in the US so I can speak on this with some expertise.

In the US becoming a licensed physician requires government licensing that is true. But within that profession, with respect to specializations, it is not true.

For example, any physician can practice medicine. But not every physician can call him or herself a urologist. To be a urologist requires an active certification from the American Board of Urology (http://www.abu.org). Which means the physician has completed an eight year residency, passed a written test, and passed two oral exams, and submitted volumes of documentation. And to maintain that certification they must recertify every five years: Which means proof of continuing education, more exams, and more documentary proof of the quality of their practice.

And for all of that no government agency is involved. If they lose their certification they can no longer practice urology though they can continue to practice medicine per their state license.

This is true of many medical specialties including some that are non-surgical. For a list of such boards go to: http://www.abms.org/member.asp

-- 
Daniel Morgan
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/oad/oad_crs.asp
http://www.outreach.washington.edu/ext/certificates/aoa/aoa_crs.asp
damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
(replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)