In LOTRO, characters cannot choose a single profession, but they choose a vocation which is comprised of three professions.
Vocations
Professions are bundled into groups of three called vocations. Most vocations include a gathering profession and two crafting professions that complement each other. Vocations create interdependence in the economy, requiring players to trade for resources. A given character can only specialize in one vocation at a time.

	Forester	Prospector	Farmer	Scholar	Metalsmith	Weaponsmith	Woodworker	Jeweller	Tailor	Cook
Armourer		x			x				x
Armsman		x				x	x
Explorer	x	x							x
Historian			x	x		x
Tinker		x						x		x
Woodsman	x		x				x
Yeoman			x						x	x

Professions
Professions are either a gathering or a crafting one. Gathering professions are used to harvest raw materials, which in turn are used to create items using a crafting profession. The higher the tier in this skill, the better raw materials can be used and more advanced items can be made. Each profession requires a specific tool.

Cook
Cooks create food items consumed to recover morale and power when not in combat and give temporary bonuses to stats. They also make lute strings that reduce minstrels' threat. Materials for this skill are harvested by farmers, or by the new hobby skill, fishing.

Farmer
Farmers grow crops used by cooks. This skill differs from the other harvesting professions in that it requires seeds to grow items. Farmers also provide scholars with rare harvests used to make dyes and straw to make traps for hunters.

Forester
Foresters gather and work randomly scattered wood. They are also able to treat leather from hides that drop from animals for use by a tailor.

Jeweller
Jewellers create various pieces of jewellery, which confers benefits to the wearer, such as additional stats. They also craft hope tokens and runes for champions. Jewellers get gems and metal from prospectors.

Metalsmith
Metalsmiths create heavy armour and shields made of metal. They get materials from prospectors.

Prospector
Prospectors mine randomly scattered ores, gems and salts. They smelt ore into metal ingots, which are used by jewellers, weaponsmiths, and metalsmiths.

Scholar
Scholar combines both harvesting and crafting. Scholars decipher lore usually found near ruins. Scholar uses lore items and other ingredients to make potions, bow chants and scrolls that give other crafters a higher critical chance to make a better - 'critted' - item. They also make dyes from plants, animal organs and mineral salts.

Tailor
Tailors make light and medium armor. Light armor requires cloth from vendors, and medium armor requires leather from foresters.

Weaponsmith
Weaponsmiths craft weapons such as swords, axes, and maces. They also produce tricks for burglars, traps for hunters, and shield spikes for guardians.

Woodworker
Woodworkers make wooden weapons (bows, spears, hammers) and other crafting components needed by other professions. Woodworkers require treated wood from foresters.