Americans are taught that independence from Great Britain came at the end of the eighteenth century, as a result of the colonial revolt against the British Empire. Th e rebellion was motivated by martial law, trade restrictions, taxation, unfair representation, and more. Th e Boston Tea Party was in 1773, the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and the Constitution was signed in 1787. It was a busy period for the fledgling United States.

One thing we don’t often fi nd in history books is that the American Revolution was, in small part, also a revolt against institutional expertise. The pre-revolution experts had power and influence. The colonials resented the elitist guilds and the monopolistic controls they exerted. After the revolution, most laws requiring professional certification in the United States were systematically eliminated. For example, between the 1840s and the 1890s, there was no requirement for certification to practice medicine or law in the United States.

In the twentieth century, professional certifications returned, and licenses were required once again to practice these and many other professions. Doctors, dentists, lawyers, financial advisors, and electricians now must get certified and be members of a sanctioned association. This protects the public from malpractice. It ensures a verified level of proficiency and establishes a baseline for legal accountability.

Being certified in a field is also a social signal. It is a message to others that you are important. In many domains, membership in an elite group bestows legitimacy. For example, if you are a Nobel Prize recipient, you are a member of an exclusive group. Membership in that group bestows, or at least testifies, to your expertise. The same can be said for anyone who receives an Oscar nomination or who plays basketball in the NBA.

While membership often signifies endorsement, it may also bestow trust. If you are a certified public accountant, for example, you are frequently assumed to be trustworthy and knowledgeable. There are, of course, violators of this trust, but the American Institute of CPAs works diligently to maintain the CPA brand, and because of its vigilance, CPAs reap benefits, financially and otherwise.

Great SMEs become members of the right groups, societies, and associations. Even in professions where the value of such membership is ambiguous, they find and influence the associations that govern their field.

Most people believe that trade associations maintain standards, and those standards are used to define who is considered an expert. But great SMEs know it works the other way around. They define the standards, which are in turn used to define and measure their discipline. An SME can either act or be acted upon. Great SMEs act.

It is unlikely that we will ever return to the 1840s when membership in a professional organization did not matter. To the contrary, most professions will see an increasing emphasis on membership and certification. It is in an SME’s best interest to become a member and set the standards for themself and others.