Phd

[potterfan3]

if you get phd you get called doctor what do you need to get to be called proffessor?

[sddsddean]

As you say, if you get a PhD (and a few other things) you can call yourself Doctor. (One of my mates has a PhD in Microbiology, so he is a Doctor). A Professor is really a job title indicating you are a leading acedemic in that field and teach that subject ( you 'profess' the subject). So, for instance, another of my mates got a PhD in Mathematics and Computing (so is a Dr), but teaches at a University, so he is Professor Dr. 'Smith' (names changed to protect the innocent!!)

[KARL]

The title "professor" denotes different things in different countries, but is always a job title. In the UK the title usually denotes "head of department" at a university (the title is only used at universities), but in most other european countries it also covers those who are called "lecturers" in Britain - these countries have no direct equivalent to the latter (junior) teaching title. However, there are other titles to cover certain lower rank status teaching jobs within european universities which have no direct equivalent in the UK either.

[Hamish]

Both answers are almost right. From a UK perspective, you need, GCSE's, A'levels (or equiv) a degree, usually 1:2 or better then you can do a PdD and become a doctor. To become a Proffessor in the UK you would then get an academic job, usually as a lecturer. Probably work though senior lecturer and reader to become a proffessor. Not all professors are heads of department, it is a title/position awarded for accademic reputation (ie you would be a world leader in your reseach field). Sometimes it is possible to skip some of the senior lecturer/reader positions and go direct to professor.

[OBonio]

My friend's dad is a professor and he worked in the private sector doing research.  As far as I understand it, Professorships get handed out by Universities and come from having papers published and becoming a respected figure in your field.

[Hamish]

I should havve added an exception. In some cases when a professor retires (in the UK) they are able to keep their title.

[simms]

In Italy, a graduate with a teaching qualification is titled 'professore / professoressa'

[slimfandango]

As pointed out, you don't need to be head of department in a UK university to be a professor. You don't need to be a leader in your field, though many of them are.
I think basically the main criterion is that of the awarding body, ie the university that employs you, in wanting to keep you by offering you more money. Professorships almost always incur a pay scale higher than that of lecturers (who get paid relatively little for the work they actually do). It stands to reason that if you are very good in your field the university would want to keep you on to ensure continued research funding. However this also means that if you have a lecturer who is 55, quite good, but not a leader in his field, you may give him a professorship just to keep up the funding stream.
There is, in my opinion, a small proportion of professors who are really 'leaders in their field.'

[Octavius]

a PhD is a 'Doctor of Philosophy' in which a person must provide a thesis that should embody the results of research which make a distinct contribution to scholarship of their chosen subject matter (basically write a book).  You can also get an MPhil which is a Master of Philosophy and goes slightly further.

A professor is usually a senior scholar in university or equivalent institution, or have attained senior positions and established reputations in industry, commerce or the professions.  To become a professor, you normally apply to a university for a visiting professorship and you are then required to spend at least one month (or the equivalent) in an academic year participating in an appropriate teaching or research post at that university.

Following this, you can obtain Professor Emiritus and Honorary roles such as Hon.Professorship, Hon.Reader or Hon.Senior Lecturer which are generally awarded by uni's in recognition of your industry or academic achievements.