Nursing is a Professional Degree Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8659
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T20:04:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, aims to expand the federal definition of a "professional student" and "professional degree" under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). It ensures advanced nursing degrees are explicitly recognized as professional degrees, likely to qualify nursing students for higher federal student loan limits available to professional students (e.g., for medicine or law).
Key Provisions
- Short Title: "Nursing is a Professional Degree Act."
- Amendment to HEA Section 455(a)(4)(C) (related to Direct Loan program definitions):
- Removes a reference to the definition of "professional degree" in federal regulations (34 CFR 668.2, as of the enactment date).
- Adds a new definition of professional degree:
- A degree signaling completion of academic requirements for entry-level practice in a profession (often requiring licensure) and a skill level beyond a bachelor's degree.
- Explicitly lists degrees including:
| Degree Field | Examples | |--------------|----------| | Pharmacy | Pharm.D. | | Dentistry | D.D.S. or D.M.D. | | Veterinary Medicine | D.V.M. | | Chiropractic | D.C. or D.C.M. | | Law | L.L.B. or J.D. | | Medicine | M.D. | | Optometry | O.D. | | Osteopathic Medicine | D.O. | | Podiatric Medicine | D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D. | | Theology | M.Div. or M.H.L. | | Clinical Psychology | Psy.D. or Ph.D. | | Nursing | MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D. | | Others | Any degree meeting the criteria, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces reliance on an outdated regulatory definition (34 CFR 668.2) with a statutory list in the HEA.
- Newly includes nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, DNAP, Ph.D.) that may not have been uniformly classified as "professional" under prior rules, aligning nursing with fields like medicine and law.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Education must update loan eligibility rules, potentially increasing federal Direct Loan disbursements for professional students (e.g., higher unsubsidized loan limits, up to $224,000 aggregate vs. standard graduate limits).
- Citizens: Benefits advanced nursing students by providing access to more affordable federal loans, easing financial barriers to advanced education and potentially growing the nursing workforce amid shortages.
- International Relations: None apparent; focuses on domestic education policy.
- Broader Effects: Could boost enrollment in nursing programs, supporting U.S. healthcare needs without new funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Nursing students pursuing MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D. (primary beneficiaries).
- Nursing schools and universities offering these programs.
- Department of Education (implements changes).
- Healthcare providers and patients (indirectly, via expanded advanced nursing workforce).
- Other professional degree students (e.g., medical, law; minor standardization effects).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Clarifies statutory definitions to reduce reliance on changeable regulations, providing stability for loan programs. Secretary of Education gains limited discretion for additional degrees.
- Constitutional: No issues; standard congressional authority over federal education funding.
- Political: Bipartisan support (sponsors: Reps. Kiggans (R), Beatty (D), Bergman (R)); addresses nursing shortages without controversy, referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Nursing is a Professional Degree Act — issued 2026-05-04 — PDF (3 pages)