Summary
Background
Professions frequently distinguish themselves from trades or vocations, by creating
professional peak bodies. Usually professional peak bodies offer two levels of subscription:
membership and fellowship. Fellowship of a peak body is widely considered as offering
status and prestige by recognising contribution made to one's profession. Fellowship
therefore, often brings with it specific privileges of a symbolic or material nature,
or both.
Aim
To describe the criteria for eligibility for fellowship; the perceived benefits of
fellowship to individuals from the organisations’ viewpoint; the process of obtaining
and maintaining fellowship across a range of professional peak bodies; and to apply
the outcomes from the survey to nursing professional peak bodies.
Method
A telephone survey of 25 professional organisations representing a range of disciplines
and industries in Australia was conducted. Each organisation was telephoned and the
manager responsible for membership was invited to participate in a 10-min telephone
survey.
Results
Of the 25 organisations approached, 24 agreed to participate (response rate 96%).
For six (25%) of these participating organisations, membership was exclusively limited
to nurses and/or midwives. Fellowship was offered in 22 organisations (92%). Significant
professional experience (73%) was the most frequently cited criterion for fellowship.
Professional leadership/contribution to the profession was listed by less than half
(45%) organisations surveyed. Over half (55%) of those organisations that offered
fellowship programs also were credentialing bodies. The main benefit of fellowship
reported was the prospect of peer recognition and higher professional standing (77%).
Discussion
The majority of organisations reported offering fellowship status and all had criteria
for fellowship. The most frequently cited criteria were, however, based on longevity
in the profession and continued financial membership rather than demonstrated leadership
within the profession. There was variability in how fellowship was attained and maintained
which may be linked to whether organisations have a credentialing role or not. A more
in depth study of fellowship is warranted.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 13, 2009
Accepted:
June 24,
2009
Received in revised form:
May 3,
2009
Received:
July 2,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Royal College of Nursing, Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
