Licensed cat herder in action (9)
I believe the answer is:
chartered
'licensed' is the definition.
(chartering is a kind of licensing)
'cat herder in action' is the wordplay.
'in action' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'cat'+'herder'='catherder'
'catherder' is an anagram of 'CHARTERED'.
(Other definitions for chartered that I've seen before include "Engaged" , "Leased" , "Professionally qualified - not scheduled" , "Hired privately" , "Hired, a boat perhaps, for exclusive use" .)