So important to society and its formal sanctioning bodies is this defined scope of practice that other health practitioners, such as dentists and nurses, actually receive a waiver from the medical practices act to be licensed for their professions. Current-day health professionals who seek formal sanctioning compete with established medical professionals. In addition, massage and cosmetology licensing includes a scope of practice that allows for the addition of reflexology services. The challenge for the emerging reflexology profession, thus, becomes, the defining of a unique systematic body of knowledge over which the reflexologist has achieved mastery and which he or she practices ethically and legally. Defining a Professional Practice Professions share certain characteristics.
Researchers vary in their descriptions of a profession but common traits emerge.
A systematic body of theory or knowledge 2. Professional authority over the body of knowledge obtained during specialized training 3. The sanction of the community to provide a valued service and to train service providers. A regulative code of ethics to ensure the safety of the public 5. A professional culture of beliefs, performance, and symbols of practice.