CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Background to the Study

Human beings have an innate tendency to form groups and affinities (Calisto, 2010). The tendency can arise from very trivial reasons to most serious ones including formation of professional associations. In groups, individual member’s knowledge is shared and different strengths are accumulated. This gives rise to great motivation which helps members to forge forward together. In the competitive world we live in, members of a professional association are able to speak in one voice. They hence become relevant within their area of jurisdiction making them hard to be ignored. The rules and regulations of a group enable them to move towards the same direction and hence achieve what an individual may not. Many professions have adopted groups in form of professional associations as a way of enhancing professionalism and regulation of their professions.

According to Canadian Access and Privacy Association (CAPA) 2011 there are several indicators of professionalism in any organization of practitioners. Major among them is certification which serves to regulate the licensing process of a profession. The benefit derived from this is for the public good or in the public interest. Professionalism demands the setting of standards and guidelines for entry to the profession in the form of examinations. This is followed by certification or registering eligible individuals, and obligating their continued competency. Professionalism requires a clear process of dealing with certified members who fail to meet the professional standards, code of ethics, or otherwise engage in what may be termed to as unprofessional conduct. The ultimate goal of any profession is to become a self-governing body, and accrue the many benefits that stem from that.

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