Are you looking to get ahead in your industry? Or maybe you’re struggling to break into a new industry? Whatever your career aspirations and aims, joining a professional organisation representing your industry will give you all the support and direction you need to initiate your success. Being a member of a professional body gives you unlimited access to all the educational resources and services you need. In addition, you will gain invaluable links within your chosen industry and all the latest information about career opportunities. Professional bodies are renowned for taking a huge interest in professional education related to their industry and are committed to meeting the demands of their knowledge-hungry members and aspiring new members.

Professional bodies are there to promote professionalism in their industry and help push its members to achieve the standards of excellence associated with their profession. By providing their members with information, training, education, tips, advice, strategies and so forth the professional bodies seek to assist its members in reaching the height of their professional career.
                                                          
It is not always easy to climb up the career ladder and that is why professional bodies are there to help you. They act as learning providers, offering you all the niche support and resources available to your sector. Furthermore, members become associated with the professional recognition of the body and its code of practice. Employers – and indeed potential employers – undoubtedly view this as a bonus for the employee as it is an indicator of the employee’s dedication to – and ambition to succeed within - the profession.

Professional bodies are usually very versatile in offering you as many ways as possible to get the most out of their resources and your membership. Learning approaches are usually designed for your convenience and so are often very flexible in format and structure so that students are able to fit their study around their often taxing workload and commitments. Though each professional body differs somewhat, most tend to offer a wide range of day and night classes designed to assist with helping you achieve your ultimate career goals by providing you with the skills you need to succeed. Various other mediums of training and learning methods are often implemented including e-learning options, dedicated supervisors or tutors, study workshops, assignments, work-based projects, group projects and assessments. Students usually have ample opportunity to network and liase with fellow professionals during workshop study groups and social events organised by the professional body. All of these learning methods are of vital importance in helping you acquire the new skills, insight and experience to excel within your profession, often specifically targeting the career area which you aim to break into.

There are many benefits and services available to members of a professional body, not least the motivation to develop their skills and succeed in their profession. Most professional societies encourage student membership, simply for the wealth of opportunities, support and resource they can offer you. They are also committed to developing and maintaining standards and policies for education within their professions. Some of these organisations also push for social awareness and debate, and work hard at influencing government and industry policy decisions. Being a member of an organisation that represents your profession is certainly beneficial in helping you increase your chances of securing a better job and giving you professional recognition. Sometimes membership in a professional body is required in order to be legally able to practice the profession as is the case with nursing and Law. However, in many other professions it is well worth taking a course simply for the educational and training value.

The many different professional bodies provide the same niche advice and information for their own sector – whether that be finance, construction, marketing, law, or other. For example, the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the representative body for professionally qualified architects in Ireland. It provides publications, seminars, courses, field trips, archives and job search facilities for its members. Members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) are employed in many areas of industry and commerce, as well as in private practice. For professionals looking for educational options in the logistics sector the Irish Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management provides ample support, information and opportunities for its members. Those practising holistic therapy would find all the latest information about resources, courses and qualifications available as a member of the Irish Health Culture Association.

There are as many professional bodies in Ireland as there are industry sectors, each offering you the recognition and guidance within your career that you desire. Members derive from all disciplines of your industry sector as well as academic institutions and it is well worth while joining an organisation that represents your profession in order to improve your professional ability and receive all the resources and guidance necessary for you to enhance your career and reach your ultimate professional goals.

Read on for profiles of several professional associations in the following sectors: management, construction and engineering, accountancy, business, and complementary therapy.