ComparisonCareers

Career vs Profession: What's the Difference?

A profession is generally a recognized field of specialized work, often involving particular knowledge, standards, qualifications or professional practices.

A career is the broader path a person takes through work and development.

For example, medicine can be a profession, while someone's career could include clinical medicine, medical education, research, administration and health entrepreneurship.

Movement across professional boundaries

A profession describes a field.

A career describes an individual's journey through work.

Understanding this distinction can help people see that career development can involve movement within or across professional boundaries.

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