WordNet
n. an association of practitioners of a given profession
Wikipedia
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) is usually a nonprofit organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest.
The roles of these professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;" also a body acting "to safeguard the public interest;" organizations which "represent the interest of the professional practitioners," and so "act to maintain their own privileged and powerful position as a controlling body."
Many professional bodies are involved in the development and monitoring of professional educational programs, and the updating of skills, and thus perform professional certification to indicate that a person possesses qualifications in the subject area. Sometimes membership of a professional body is synonymous with certification, though not always. Membership of a professional body, as a legal requirement, can in some professions form the primary formal basis for gaining entry to and setting up practice within the profession; see licensure.
Many professional bodies also act as learned societies for the academic disciplines underlying their professions.
As a practical matter, most professional organizations of global scope (see List of professional organizations) are located in the United States. The U.S. has often led the transformation of various occupations into professions, a process described in the academic literature as professionalization.
Usage examples of "professional association".
Futurists should be attached to every political party, university, corporation, professional association, trade union and student organization.
His professional association with Whitey Sor-kin continued part-time even after Gately discovered his real B&.
Their professional association fracturing, Cathy's immediate athletic future looked bleak.
Why, after a professional association of so many years, during which I have been reticent about my personal affairs, am I impelled now to offer you such a statement as this?
Ramsey greeted all of his judges and all of his barristers, whom he knew from long personal and professional association.
But they had covered the tables up and gone to their professional association meeting because they were finished.
Meaning she had been trained in scuba diving by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
For years now, the ABA has been issuing wild proclamations more appropriate to Janeane Garofalo than a professional association of lawyers.