The difference between having a job and engaging in a profession is viewed by some as a distinction without a difference. Putting this semantic argument aside, one mark of a profession is a requirement that individuals engage in specialized training and be licensed by a professional board or government agency.

That is certainly the case with individuals seeking to be insurance agents, who are required to complete a range of mandates to enter the profession. Under Florida law, an individual must complete 52 hours of classroom training and/or have a combination of classroom instruction and work-related experience to secure a general lines' license. Then there is the matter of passing a licensing exam and background check.

These requirements are there for a reason, not the least of which is to preserve the integrity of the profession and ensure that the public is well served. They also stand as a notice to prospective agents that while joining the agent force is not akin to joining the military, it is a serious commitment that is worthy of being one's life work.