Engineers are only one type of professional: doctors, lawyers and accountants are also professionals who have obligations to their profession before their obligation to their employer.

The title 'software developer' is correct. We are not engineers and we are not professionals. Pretending otherwise is a grasp for unearned status.

I believe software developers don't have any kind of paperwork to be considered professionals. Professionalism is a kind of attitude to begin with and can be tied to your conscience and moral compass.

Any paperwork certifying this is just a label and external anchor. In essence, it starts from within.