It is one that is awarded by a professional organisation. It can be a certificate, diploma, associate membership or fellowship, explains UmmeSalma Mujtaba

In today's economic climate more than ever, a professional qualification is highly valued in the commercial world, and offers huge benefits in terms of earning potential and career opportunities.

It can be an academic qualification - a degree awarded by a university or a qualification awarded by a recognised qualification awarding body.

To name a few, the City and Guilds, The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants offers ACCA, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants offers CIMA, The IT Skills Award is offered by Cambridge International Examinations, IT Skills Awards, Chartered Institute of Marketing CIM offers a range of internationally recognised qualifications in marketing.

Cambridge Executive Diploma in Management offered by University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is not an MBA qualification.

However it is equivalent in content to level four and five management qualifications provided in the UK and as such provide an excellent basis for progress to advanced levels in an MBA programme.

Students achieving the diplomas at professional and higher professional levels are advised to contact universities in the UK and internationally about the entrance requirements for individual MBA programmes.

The professional qualification demonstrates that the professional organisation, which has the legal right to confer professional status, recognises that you have the necessary knowledge and skill to perform a service to the public.

Certificates and diplomas can be displayed on practitioners' office walls to attest to this recognition.

Where many occupations and professions are knowledge-based, it is vitally important to have occupational and/or professional qualifications in order to demonstrate that you have the ability to undertake a professional role.

Qualifications are rather like references for prospective employers. You need them to enhance your career. They could lead to academic qualifications.

What is the difference between academic and professional qualifications?

Traditionally, academic qualifications preceded vocational ones, since education was seen as something offered to young people. Vocational qualifications were gained afterwards.

In this knowledge-based society, however, where education is life-long, this distinction is now regarded as somewhat artificial.

Vocational qualifications can be gained at school and college, and academic qualifications can be gained at any time during our lives.

Academic qualifications are still most often used as entry requirements for vocational training, so that some professions require GCE Advanced Level or a degree before starting to study for the vocational qualification.

There are exceptions that can be gained through experience, and what is called the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

n Professional qualifications can also be used to satisfy the entry requirements for academic courses. Now, they are interchangeable in many instances and, in others, there are dual qualifications.

For instance, ACCA's innovative partnership with Oxford Brookes University allows ACCA students to study for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Accounting, while taking their ACCA examinations.

For further information visit www.accaglobal.com/
students/professionalscheme/degreepartnership/.

  • n Cranfield University School of Management is offering members of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) scholarships towards their MBA programme fees. Log on to www.cimaglobal.com/
    cps/rde/xchg/SID-0AAAC544-756A0330/
    live/root.xsl/1256_9 708.htm    .
  • Cambridge International Diplomas in Management provide a framework for developing the business skills and knowledge needed at frontline and middle management levels. The course is designed to build on the knowledge gained whilst studying for business awards, and also prepares those planning to progress towards an MBA. Various UK universities allow entry into their MBA programmes at different levels for those possessing a Cambridge professional qualification in management. Website: www.cie.org.uk.
  • Chartered Institute of Marketing CIM Professional PG Diploma holders can now earn masters degree awarded by University of Glamorgan business school by two taught weekends and a 20,000 word dissertation, all this can be finished in nine months. Website: www.marketingmasters.co.uk/.
  • Students who successfully complete the CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma are eligible to progress to Leicester Business School's MSc Strategic Marketing programme, to ‘top-up' their postgraduate diploma to a masters qualification through one-year part time study. Website: www.dmu.ac.uk/faculties/business_and_law/
    business/mk_ma_cim.jsp    .
  • The Aston University also offers a fast-track option for masters in marketing to existing CIM PG Diploma holders.

Achievement of professional qualifications by an individual is a demonstration of a commitment to learning and development and evidence of the aim to become part of a more professional organisation.

Feda Shaheen, Head Professional Qualifications Knowledge Horizon, said: "People find professional qualifications are more delivering.

"I can give you international examples, for example in the UK, some schools require a teaching diploma as a requisite qualification to teach, this diploma comes under professional qualification."

Arlene Luther, PA to the general manager of Beiersdorf who left school at the age of 18, started with the professional qualifications offered by CIM.

She says she started from scratch. Now four years down the line, she is lucky to earn a professional postgraduate diploma in marketing and hopes she can top it up with maters in marketing by attending two seminars and fulfilling the dissertation requirements.

The writer is is a management sciences lecturer/freelance academic consultant and PhD research student at SZABIST