This is gonna be a hot one.

12 years ago I made websites...for free. I wasn't a pro.

I started selling them to clients once in a while but not full time. I was semi-pro.

I took the leap of faith, registered a business, marketed, attracted clients, won bids, earned a full time living, have been doing that for over 7 years. I constantly study, learn, work at doing what I do. It never ends. I'm a professional. It's my living.

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I think the same applies here. You build for fun and might trade for products once in a while...you're not a pro.

You have the skills to get published or land a commission deal...but it's not your living - you're semi-pro.

You get to the point where it's your living. You're pro.

Granted...someone who isn't a 'pro' can achieve pro results..but in order to achieve that, said person would have to be working on the craft of finishing models and not discussing the qualifications required to become a pro modeler.