First ask yourself what is professional? Getting paid for doing something technically makes you a professional, now whether it's "professional" quality work with professional ethics is an entire differant story.

To go along with jorge, better equipment definitely does have it's advantages but is completely useless if you don't know how to use it or simply don't have an eye for the final product.

A true professional photographer is comfortable in ANY situation, whatever the lighting or scene is they can still make something work. Very few on here can do, I know I am farrrr from it...