expertOver at the Simple Dollar Trent responded to one critic’s comments about his qualifications to provide financial information.

The critic’s comments got me to thinking about exactly what constitutes an expert. Think about this. What does make one an expert?

 


Education

For many people the person who holds an advanced degree in some field is considered an expert. While those who hold advanced degrees may, indeed, be experts in their narrow field of interest, does that necessarily translate to a broader definition of “expert”? More importantly, does it imply that one must have an advanced degree in order to attain expert status?

If education alone were the determinant, would we consider to be an expert the young man who went straight from high school into college, and onto graduate school without having ever worked in their field?

I’ve met a few of these “experts”. They know it all – so they think – and look down condescendingly at those who don’t hold the same educational degree.

Experience

What role does experience play in the development of an expert?

Kevin Kelly, one of the founders of WIRED magazine certainly could be considered an expert in technology  and in identifying cultural trends. Yet, Kevin has no college degree.

 Leo LaPorte is a journalist best known for his knowledge of all things computer-ish was a Chinese History major before dropping out of college. Nonetheless, he has distinguished himself as an expert in technology.

Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey and a host of others have established themselves as personal finance experts, while lacking formal education in finance.

Neither Bill Gates nor Steve Jobs completed college degrees, yet I’m doubtful that anyone would challenge the assertion that they are experts.

So, Just What is an Expert?

The best answer I can give is that an expert is someone who:

A. has an extensive  and deep knowledge of a given area of study, or

B. is widely recognized by others as having expert knowledge.

What’s missing from this particular description is mention of formal education. And that is very deliberate.

Education can take many forms. The person who has a deep and abiding interest in a field and who endeavors to learn all they can about a given topic may do so through self-education. Is their education, driven by a strong interest, and based most likely on a wide range of reading and research any less valuable than the structured, possibly biased education they would receive in a formal classroom?

I run into this now and again in my own work. Some of the most knowledgeable nurses lack even a bachelor’s degree. They have expanded their knowledge solely through experience and self-education. Does that make them any less an expert? Not in my book.

Some of those very same nurses are also among the best teachers. Should their lack of a formal degree render them ineligible to teach new nurses?

Meanwhile, there are master’s prepared nurses who are educationally qualified to teach who have never even really cared for a patient. How well will their students perform when pitted against the student educated by an experienced nurse?

I don’t have answers to these questions, but I do truly believe that we need to let go of the belief that an expert must have college degree and realize that the people who are most capable are the ones most strongly driven to know more.

What do you think?