For how long do you think someone has to engage in a profession and how recently, in order to refer to themselves by that profession?

I think you can still call yourself those things. I guess you can say retired accountant, or I was an accountant, but just have an accounting degree probably makes you an accountant always. Just like being a doctor, having the education, makes you a doctor always. Being President, makes you President always. I guess maybe if the particular professions has changed drastically maybe the designation would not apply? Let’s see what other people think, GQ.

I say equal numbers. If you teach for a year, you can call yourself a teacher for another year. If you’re a plumber for five years, you get another five years.

I just made that up, no good basis for it. Discuss.

If they maintain their credentials, why not?

Judy brings up a point. Sometimes it has to do with maintaining credentials. Like I can no longer call myself a realtor, not allowed to, I no longer pay dues to the Realtor’s assocation, but I continue to be a licensed Real Estate salesperson.

@Judi What about a doctor? If a doctor retires and no longer practices, no longer maintains his professional license, would you still consider that person a doctor?

@JLeslie ; I don’t know. Probably. What feels natural is that if the title has become part of your name (Dr. Smith) it is for life.

Yes, they have not lost their training or their expertise.

Can you call yourself a “lion tamer” if you haven’t tamed a single lion in ten years? Sure.

Would you actually try to tame a lion being ten years out of practice? Probably not.

You can call yourself whatever you want. Whether or not you can still do the job depends on a number of factors. Licensing, up-to-date training, familiarity with the latest tools-of-the-trade, etc.

Lawyers are required to get a certain number of hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain their license.

A lot of people call themselves something, and I don’t think they deserve to. In my opinion, it isn’t up to me to decide. It’s the people who work with me. I’ve been called professor a lot, but I don’t have a PhD. I used to try to set them straight, but now I don’t bother. Doesn’t happen so much any more. I wonder why.

Here’s another conundrum. I write all day almost every day, and yet I do not consider myself a writer, because in my whole life I’ve made less that $50 from my writing. I’m an amateur, I guess. Not a professional.

I guess one could make such a distinction. If you are currently making money doing your thing, you’re a professional. If not, an amateur, and if you don’t do it at all, they you probably don’t deserved to be called it at all, whatever it is.