Understanding Government professions
What is a Government profession?
A Government profession focuses on developing specialist skills, knowledge, and career pathways for people in their chosen profession, There are currently 31 Government professions. You can read more on the guidance page or sign up here.
What is the difference between a profession and a function?
A Government profession focuses on developing specialist skills, knowledge, and career pathways for people in their chosen profession, while a function sets cross-government strategy, standards, gives expert advice, develops and delivers service and drives continuous improvement across departments and arm’s length bodies.
What is the difference between a profession and a specialism?
Professions are, by their nature, broad and provide career pathways from entry level right through to the most senior grades of the civil service. A specialism is an area of expertise within a profession which typically involves a specific skill set or focus that aligns with the main profession.
These specialisms often require training, qualifications or experience related to the specialist area but share common skills and approaches with the parent profession. For example Health and Safety is one of the specialisms in the Property profession that requires a particular set of skills and expertise, but does not have its own career framework.
Is there a profession for everyone?
Yes, there is a cross-Government profession that can support you to deliver in your role and to develop your career in the Civil Service. You are able to join a primary and a secondary profession if that best reflects your experience or career aspirations.
Do I have to join a profession?
Every civil servant should be part of a profession to help you develop your professional knowledge, skills, networks and support career development.
Joining a profession
How do I know which profession is best for me to join?
Your profession is linked to your role and the skills you use. It might not be obvious to you what profession you belong to. The Join a Profession website will help you explore the different professions. Your line manager may also be able to advise you, or you can use the online tool to find out which profession best matches your work or read the profession descriptions to learn more.
How can I sign up if the profession I want to join doesn’t have a website?
Each profession has its own joining route, which may be by website or newsletter or email. Details of how to join each profession can be found by clicking on the profession’s name on our Join a Profession page. Some professions have membership requirements or are linked to specific roles. They may have specific qualifications and experience requirements which you would need to meet before joining the profession.
Do I have to check with my line manager before I join a profession?
It’s useful to talk to your line manager about joining a profession and discuss how this can help with your role and with your career. Your line manager does not need to countersign any application however. We know that many civil servants are part of multidisciplinary teams. If your line manager has a different professional background to you, they can still connect you with the central profession and give advice.
Are there specific requirements or qualifications needed to join a profession?
Some technical professions, such as Occupational Psychology or Counter Fraud set membership requirements you may need to meet before joining, for example holding a specific role or qualification. Most do not and are open to all civil servants
I have already joined a profession. What do I do now?
Your profession may have a website, newsletter or regular learning opportunities you can take part in. Take a look at these and see which opportunities you would like to be more involved in. Make sure you also list the right profession when completing the People Survey each year or when registering for Civil Service Live.
My HR system says I’m in one profession, but I think I belong to another. What should I do?
You can still connect to one of the open professions if you think this is right for your role. Every department’s HR system is different so please check the local guidance on your intranet and speak to your line manager if you think what’s on your HR system isn’t right.
Being in multiple professions
What is a primary profession?
Your primary profession is your career anchor. This is the area that you are most qualified and experienced in, and usually is related to the work you do. For example if you are a digital specialist working in an Operational department, and the majority of work involves digital services development, then you are likely to choose Digital and Data as your primary profession.
What is a secondary profession?
You can join more than one profession, as your role, experience or career aspirations may cover more than one professional area. For example if you are an environmental expert working on a piece of legislation or a new area of policy, you could select the policy profession as a secondary profession. This would ensure that you are connected to people and learning that is relevant to your role.
I am a member of a government function. Can I also join a profession?
Yes. While not all civil servants are part of a government function (less than one-third are), all civil servants should be part of a profession.
Benefits of a profession
What are the benefits of 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. Joining a profession connects you to a professional community across government and gives you access to professional development, networks, and career pathways in addition to training available in your department.
Does joining a profession mean additional work for me?
Professions provide a range of learning opportunities to get involved which are voluntary. The Government strongly encourages it to help you develop your professional knowledge, skills, learning and career development. You can make it part of your learning and development plan.
Who pays for training once I join a profession?
Training budgets are maintained by your Department or Agency and not by your profession. Speak to your line manager about your training needs and about available budget to support these.