Professional Work

" Professional work is therefore distinguished from work involving routine mental, manual, mechanical or physical work. A professional employee generally uses the advanced knowledge to analyze, interpret or make deductions from varying facts or circumstances. "

-- DOL : Fact Sheet #17D

I was recently made aware of the above definition of Professional Work, as given in the U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #17D.

The document further attempts to differentiate a Learned Professional in this manner :-

" The employee’s primary duty must be the performance of work requiring advanced knowledge, defined as work which is predominantly intellectual in character and which includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment. "

I feel the key differentiators here are the " consistent exercise of discretion and judgment.". A “Work requiring advanced knowledge” is defined as :-

• predominantly intellectual in character
• includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment

And, finally, a moment of true realization :- " Advanced knowledge cannot be attained at the high school level. "

Please do take a look at the Department Of Labor : Fact Sheet #17D. It's an enlightening read.