Join a profession
Grow your skills, progress your career and build your network.
It’s fun, fast and free.
“I believe everyone can benefit from being part of the ODP community. There’s something for everyone within the Operational Delivery Profession, with excellent support for both career and personal development.”
Zara England, Welsh Government, Operational Delivery Profession.
Government professions are groups of people who share common skills, expertise, and knowledge across departments and agencies. They’re more than just networks – they’re professional communities that support your training and development, help you excel in your role, and connect you with colleagues who understand your work and its challenges.
Being part of a government profession is an important part of every civil servant’s career journey. Wherever you work, whatever you do, there’s a Civil Service profession waiting to welcome you and help you develop. There are 31 different professions in the Civil Service, from Digital and Data to Policy to Operational Delivery.
We’ve launched Join a profession to help everyone find their professional home in the Civil Service. We all have at least one profession that supports us in our role or interests — we can help you find yours.
Which government profession am I in?
Every civil servant is a member of at least one profession, and you can be a member of more than one depending on your role. Some professions need a qualification to join but several are open to all. Civil servants can use this page to join one of the 31 government professions available to them. It’s easy to do and helps you in your career.
Once you’ve explored the different professions, choose one from the links below to find out more about joining. If you feel the profession is a good fit, then follow the instructions to sign up.
How to join a government profession
Choose a profession from the links below to find out how to connect. If you feel a profession is a good fit, then follow the professions’ instructions to sign up.
Government professions with open membership
These professions are open to all colleagues whose work fits with the professions’s aims.
*links to Government Finance portal
Government professions with membership requirements
These professions may require you to work in a specific role or have a specific qualification in order to join them.
Some professions with membership requirements offer general information for non-members who understand more about how they work and the standards they adhere to.
If you are interested in exploring careers in professions with membership requirements, please speak with your line manager to understand if this is relevant to your role.
If you’re still unsure about which profession is right for you, please try our professions matching tool. It’s still in development, so this is an early access version.
Questions about professions?
What is a profession?
A profession is a group of people with common skills, knowledge and expertise who work across government on behalf of departments, agencies and functions. There are currently 31 Professions, sometimes split into four broad groupings: Operational Delivery, Policy, Functional professions, and Specialist professions.
What is the difference between a profession and a function?
A profession focuses on developing specialist skills, knowledge, and career pathways for people, while a function is a grouping of work aligned across government that sets strategies, standards, and delivers services.
How do I benefit from joining a profession?
Benefits include access to specialised learning developed and approved by the profession, defined career pathways, specialist networks, professional development opportunities, and career progression support.
Do I have to join a profession?
Every civil servant should be part of a profession to help you develop your professional knowledge, skills, learning and career development.
Is there a profession for everyone?
Yes, there is a relevant profession for every role in the Civil Service. You are able to join more than one profession if that best suits your role or career aspirations.
Helpful information
Link to Professions guidance page
Link to Civil Service Professions page
Link to Specialist Skills Guide