[dalby]

I kind of agree. I make the analogy between a car salesman and a race car driver.

A licensed person doesn't necessarily know the first thing about trading, and he may not even trade himself. It's a necessary credential to be a salesman.

Just cause you sell stocks (or futes etc.) doesn't make you a trader, let alone a professional trader.

The distinction between who is and isn't a "professional" trader is largely semantical of course.

One could argue that even a trader who trades very small size and has a full time job, but is methodical in his execution and has a solid, written out business plan , is being a professional trader.

Certainly I think one who makes a living trading is a professional, regardless of cert's or lack thereof.