[NY_USA_Hacker]

You are getting close: List the characteristics of the usual professions and then conclude that in the US software is not a profession. It's even less of a profession than being a plumber or electrician since can need a license for each of these.

Lawyers? They have a cute professional rule that a lawyer working as a lawyer must be supervised by a lawyer. So, no stuffed suit, business middle manager types need apply to supervise lawyers in an organization.