7-454: The Scottish Countryside Rangers' Association (SCRA) is the professional association supporting rangers and other countryside professionals in Scotland . Formed in 1974, the association has a strong tradition of supporting its members through the provision of advice, training and the facilitation of networking opportunities. Over recent years, efforts of the association have included organising
14-461: A profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation". The Quality Assurance Agency distinguishes between statutory bodies and regulators that "have powers mandated by Parliament to regulate a profession or group of professions and protect the use of professional titles" and professional bodies that "are independent membership organisations that oversee
21-827: The International Ranger Federation 's 2006 World Ranger Congress in Stirling (in partnership with the Countryside Management Association of England and Wales), producing the Ranger Standards Manual, and starting to implement a programme of continuing professional development for rangers working in Scotland. Over 300 rangers work in Scotland, employed by local government, by public bodies such as Forestry Commission Scotland and Historic Scotland , and by non-governmental organisations such as
28-498: The Scottish Wildlife Trust . This Scotland -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Professional association A professional association (also called a professional body , professional organization , or professional society ) is a group that usually seeks to further a particular profession , the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and
35-527: The public interest . In the United States, such an association is typically a nonprofit business league for tax purposes. In the UK, they may take a variety of legal forms. The roles of professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in a learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;" also a body acting "to safeguard
42-414: The activities of a particular profession and represent the interests of [their] members" and which "may offer registration or certification of unregulated occupations on a voluntary basis." Many professional bodies are involved in accrediting degrees, defining and examining the skills and competencies necessary to practice, and granting professional certifications to indicate that a person is qualified in
49-514: The public interest;" organizations which "represent the interest of the professional practitioners," and so "act to maintain their own privileged and powerful position as a controlling body." Professional associations are ill defined although often have commonality in purpose and activities. In the UK the Science Council defines a professional body as "an organisation with individual members practicing
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