A professional school is a place for higher education with a specific professional focus, where students are trained for a specific profession which requires academic background. Professional schools often belong to universities. Classes may be strictly postgraduate, or may extend down to the college level in some cases.

The instruction prepares students for a profession requiring academic study. Programs can begin at college level or require previous degrees, depending on the professional school.

A training school provides lessons outside the degree-oriented academic system. A school's occupational focus alone does not make it a higher-education professional school.