TOWARDS GR AS A RECOGNIZED PROFESSION

There is an increase of publications, conversations, and presentations surrounding the topic of GR as a profession. None fully explores or offers a consensus on whether or not GR is a profession or if GR specialists should work toward professionalizing the field in the future. GR still has some distance to travel before it is recognized a field of study, a discipline, or a profession. GR must establish more credentials before it can be considered a true discipline.

There are four criteria an occupation must meet in order to become a recognized profession. Any occupation wishing to exercise professional authority must find a technical basis for it, assert an exclusive jurisdiction, link both skill and jurisdiction to standards of training, and convince the public that its services are uniquely trustworthy.

All recognized professions have exclusive authority over the tasks they perform. This means only those who are licensed, certified, or approved can practice the skills and accept responsibility for the professional service. Sole jurisdiction necessitates a similarity of duties or responsibilities for all those who practice. In order to enjoy self-jurisdiction, we must create a clear definition of the occupation, to include the responsibilities, procedures, scope of practice, and professional practices all GR practitioners should follow. Without a professional organization providing GR Practitioners with policies, procedures, scope of practice, and other professional standards, a lack of knowledge regarding standards seems not entirely the fault of GR practitioners.

In order for GR to become a recognized discipline and profession, a unique and credible knowledge body needs to be strengthened, clear modes of inquiry that demonstrate how the GR practice is validated need to exist, and new knowledge needs to be created by GR practitioners.

To date, a unique and credible body of knowledge is nonexistent, evidence supporting the impact of the GR practice is insufficient, and a coherent and widely delivered curriculum for the GR practice is currently unavailable. Top priority for GR is to develop a theory of the GR practice. We must first clarify what the GR practice is and is not by generating a theory of the GR practice.