What is a "professional aquarist"?

[Ad van Tage]

I hate making assumptions, so can those who KNOW, or who are using the terminology answer the following: "" What is a "Professional Aquarist"? ""


I understand things like "Professional Engineer, i.e. P.Eng." , "Computer guy"... , "LFS owner" , I think, but am not sure about "Professional Aquarist"?

Is there a society that certifies "Aquarists"?

If so, which one is it? And what if any are the prerequisites?

 

[Anonymous]

I've always wondered the same thing.

 

[Anonymous]

Making a guess here, I'd say a professional aquarist is all of us in the business of taking care of aquaria. That would be a LFS owner, employee, service guy, wholesaler, exporter and even the collectors becuase we all take care of fish thru the COC.

 

[JennM]

From Meriam Webster online:

Main Entry: 1pro·fes·sion·al
Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1748
1 a : of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession b : engaged in one of the learned professions c (1) : characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession (2) : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2 a : participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>
3 : following a line of conduct as though it were a profession <a professional patriot>
- pro·fes·sion·al·ly adverb

Main Entry: aquar·ist
Pronunciation: &-'kwar-ist, -'kwer-
Function: noun
Date: circa 1893
: a person who keeps or maintains an aquarium

By those definitions, any and all of us who do this for a living, are "Professional Aquarists".

Jenn

 

[Ad van Tage]

From Meriam Webster online:

Main Entry: 1pro·fes·sion·al
Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-n&l, -'fe-sh&-n&l
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1748
...............
Main Entry: aquar·ist
Pronunciation: &-'kwar-ist, -'kwer-
Function: noun
Date: circa 1893
...............
By those definitions, any and all of us who do this for a living, are "Professional Aquarists".

Jenn

Hi Jenn, thanx for the look-up.

Let me suggest that I was not interested in the dictionary meaning of either "professional", or "aquarist"... Those are fairly self evident.
And yes, I do have dictionaries,,,


You may recall from your days in Canada, that in this country the use of P.Eng. is a title, which in fact is protected [ by law ].

People can make a claim to being a "professional engineer".. but to claim "Professional Engineer" one needs to be a registered member of the applicable Society of Professional Engineers. Likewise , one can be a nurse, without being an RN!


Note that I also asked "" Is there a society that certifies "Aquarists"? ""
That was part and parcel of my enquiry, lest there be some confusion.

I am not familiar with the various and sundry societies that may exist in the USA.

For instance I know that there is a Society of Petroleum Engineers [ i.e. the SPE ] but it hardly has the weight of a Society of Professional Engineers, or Professional Geologists , as they are known in Canada. I believe that Europeans have similar differences. The SPE would be better defined as "Society of petroleum engineers"... though no doubt some would argue that!

So that still leaves me with:
what is a: "Professional Aquarists".
as opposed to a "professional aquarists"...

Likewise, care to hazard "Professional Amorists" versus "professional amorists"???



_________________
~ Ad aka Ecoworrier ~

PS I think it might be a good idea to have a Society of Registered or Professional Aquarists [ RAs or PAs (?) ] actually :idea: :idea: :idea:

Especially if that would mean, not unlike the Professional Engineers, that there would be STANDARDS :!: :!: :!:

One standard for instance, practiced by Professional/Registered Aquarists [ PAs/RAs ] could be related to the ethics of the catching of the creatures involved in the aquarium trade!


A selfpolicing professional society, for "practicioners" in the field, a society with "sanctions" would be much preferable to an industry lobby-group. IMHO! for ALL parties involved!

When I get plans that are signed of by a P.Eng. I KNOW I have a product I can rely on!

 

[mkirda]

" What is a "Professional Aquarist"? ""

Is there a society that certifies "Aquarists"?

And what if any are the prerequisites?

Someone who is gainfully employed as an aquarist.

No, not that I am aware of.

PreReqs? Experience, I imagine... That and loving the taste of salty water.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Anonymous]

My "experience" of professional aquarist title was that it was given to those who cared for specific sections of a public aquarium. While I don't believe there's any society that specifically certifies, I know that there were minimum education requirements (sorry, don't recollect what they were). The P.A. I was volunteering at was part of the A.Z.A., and I believe there are requirements for an establishment to gain A.Z.A. accreditation.

 

[Ad van Tage]

My "experience" of professional aquarist title was that it was given to those who cared for specific sections of a public aquarium. While I don't believe there's any society that specifically certifies, I know that there were minimum education requirements (sorry, don't recollect what they were). The P.A. I was volunteering at was part of the A.Z.A., and I believe there are requirements for an establishment to gain A.Z.A. accreditation.

Interesting comment!

I have come across
Aquarium Aquarist Kristy
and
Aquarium Aquarist Erik

at one of the BIGger aquariums...

Needles to say, I found that a bit quaint: "Aquarium Aquarist"
But I think one had to see it in context... The Aquarist at THE specific Aquarium...


I mean, otherwise it gets a wee silly! With sumpting like a Sump Aquarist perhaps?!?

 

[Anonymous]

The term "professional aquarist" covers a lot of bases. People who work on and maintain closed systems in public aquariums or laboratories are generally designated as professional aquarists. AZA prefers to divide it further, to things like "Aquarium Biologist", "Life Support Technician", "Animal Husbandry Supervisor", etc., but most professional aquarists who have moved beyond the algae cleaning and chemistry running do more than just one thing or the other.

Marina, you are right in saying AZA requires a specific protocal be in place before they approve an institute's accreditation. It's generally a pretty difficult and rigorous process.

 

[Ad van Tage]

" What is a "Professional Aquarist"? ""

Is there a society that certifies "Aquarists"?

And what if any are the prerequisites?

Someone who is gainfully employed as an aquarist.

That would be any professional aquarist. And "gainfully" is not a requisite, or?

No, not that I am aware of.

Likewise... So NO "Professional Aquarist"?

PreReqs? Experience, I imagine... That and loving the taste of salty water.

Regards. Mike Kirda

Where does the SALTy come in?

So long,

 

[Ad van Tage]

...........

Marina, you are right in saying AZA requires a specific protocal be in place before they approve an institute's accreditation. It's generally a pretty difficult and rigorous process.

So does AZA < their certification costs BIG BUCKS!!! > have a specific "Professional Aquarist" "title"?

Rather than a mere "jobdescription"?

I mean a Chartered Accountant, or a Registered Nurse, have requirements placed on them , which they need to meet.

IS there such a situation for "Professional Aquarists" ???


And if so, where might I find the descriptions, etc. So far I have found none...


Perhaps looking in ALL the wrong places, who knows!

 

[Anonymous]

Is there a society that certifies "Aquarists"?

If the institute is AZA accredited, there may be prerequisites or training before hiring. Experience is defintely looked for, but also strength and stamina (carrying so much water so far, etc.). Professional aquarists don't usually have an easy job, and it can be very stressful.