This report explores the effects of teacher professionalization on elementary and secondary teachers in the United States. The analysis examines the relationships between a set of characteristics traditionally associated with professions and professionals and teachers' commitment to their teaching careers. The report focuses on the following professional characteristics: (1) credentials--use of professional criteria for hiring teaching job candidates; (2) induction--provision of mentoring programs for beginning teachers and the effectiveness of assistance provided to new teachers; (3) professional development--extent of participation in activities sponsored by professional teaching organizations, and financial support; (4) authority--faculty influence over school policymaking and the degree of teachers' individual autonomy within their classrooms; and (5) compensation--the highest salary levels offered by schools. The data source was the 1990-91 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). Data analysis revealed that four characteristics in particular were associated with commitment: teacher classroom autonomy, faculty policymaking influence, effectiveness of assistance for new teachers, and teachers' maximum end-of-career salaries. In contrast, several traditional indicators of teacher professionalization were not associated with higher teacher commitment: use of professional criteria for hiring teaching job candidates, financial support for teachers' continuing education, and participation in activities sponsored by professional teaching organizations. The appendix lists additional resources on SASS. (Contains approximately 50 references.) (ND)