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Types of special professionals

About the types of special professionals and how we define them.

Published 28 May 2025

Author or inventor

You're a special professional if you're an inventor or the author of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work.

The expression 'author' is a technical term from copyright law.

In general, the author of:

  • a musical work is its composer
  • an artistic work is the artist, sculptor or photographer who creates it.

Performing artist

You're a special professional if you either:

  • use intellectual, artistic, musical, physical or other personal skills in the presence of an audience
  • perform or appear in a film, on a tape or disc, or in a television or radio broadcast.

Production associate

You're a special professional if you use artistic rather than technical skills in the production.

The people who qualify as production associates are specified in the definition of artistic support to be:

  • an art director
  • a choreographer
  • a costume designer
  • a director
  • a director of photography
  • a film editor
  • a lighting designer
  • a musical director
  • a producer
  • a production designer
  • a set designer
  • any person who makes an artistic contribution like that made by any of these people.

Sportsperson

You're a special professional if you compete in sporting activities where you primarily use physical prowess, physical strength or physical stamina. A navigator in car rallying, a coxswain in rowing or a similar competitor is also a special professional.

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