A profession is:

• based on specialized knowledge and skills.
• based on service to others.
• practiced by members who share and agree to adhere to a common code of ethics.

A profession's code of ethics:

• communicates the shared principles and expected behaviors of its members.
• generates confidence not only among members of the organization but also among non-members (clients, prospective clients, and/or the general public).

A profession may adopt standards of conduct to enhance and clarify the code of ethics.