The article describes ideas about the phenomenon of self-improvement in modern psychological research. It is proved that professional self-improvement is a conscious, focused process of increasing the level of the own competence, developing professionally significant qualities in accordance with external social requirements, conditions of professional activity and a personal development program. The subjective and objective factors of professional becoming were characterized. The conditions of professional self-improvement are specified. Special attention was paid to the need to ensure positive motivation as a condition for stimulating professional self-improvement of future specialists.