Health Technology Assessment (HTA) should continue evolving in order to effectively meet stakeholder expectations in the next decade. There is need for strengthening current expertise while developing new capabilities to keep up with rapid innovations in health care. Institutionalizing knowledge and skill through professionalization of HTA is a critical factor for successful “smart capability building” and the practice of HTA beyond 2020.

Professionalism is understood to mean different things by different people. This paper does not primarily focus on whether HTA is or should be a “profession” but on the development of institutions, structures, and attitudes that are characteristic of a profession and the impact they could have on the practice of knowledge and skill in HTA. “Professionalization” is used in this case to refer to the status of institutions, structures and attitudes and the process of establishing them. Professional standards include both ethical standards and standards of (technical) competence. Ethics applies to standards of competence, because stakeholders expect professionals to adhere to standards of competence and ethical standards. I will argue for the institutionalization of the practice of HTA knowledge and skill for mutual benefit and the prevention of exploitative and unjust use of HTA capabilities and processes. Is expertise necessary in HTA? Yes, conducting HTA requires specialized skills and knowledge. Effective decision-support requires multidisciplinary and efficient HTA teams. Core competencies and smart capabilities must be clearly defined and institutionalized for the production of effective HTA in the coming decade. Credentialism also becomes necessary for protecting the public from the consequences of bad evidence and bad choices. It will also protect the integrity of HTA practitioners and bolster professional autonomy.

Professionalization is instrumental in the development of ethical standards and standards of technical competence necessary for successful HTA practice.

HTAi should professionalize HTA to facilitate and guide “smart capability building”.