Professional body

A professional body (sometimes referred to as a professional association, organisation, institute or society) is an organisation that comprises members who are professionals in a specific sector, such as construction.

In this context, the term 'professional' refers to an individual who has achieved certain educational and training standards that provide them with the knowledge, expertise and skills necessary to carry a particular role effectively.

Professional bodies typically seek to further the interests of their profession and members. They may also set standards for ethics, performance, competence, insurance, training, and so on, that must be met to remain within the profession. These are typically set out in a code of conduct.

It is compulsory for certain professions to be a member of a particular professional body, in order that they have a ‘licence to practice’, or be included on a professional register, for example, architects must be registered with the Architects Registration Board.

A chartered institute, or a chartered body, is a professional body which has been granted a Royal Charter and provides members with a route towards becoming qualified as a chartered professional.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Architectural practice.
• Chartered institute.
• Construction industry institutes and associations.
• Construction organisations and strategy.
• Construction professional.
• CPD.
• Practice.
• Professional.
• Professional practice.
• Types of construction organisation.
• What is a Chartered Practice?