Professional Association  - Social Work & Human Resources Management

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.” This, in turn, places the burden of enforcing a profession ban upon these associations as well.