Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

Bill Number: H.R. 8691
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Last Updated: 2026-07-10T08:06:24Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Nursing is a Professional Degree Act" (H.R. 8691) aims to update the federal definition of a "professional student" under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This change explicitly recognizes advanced nursing degrees (and others) as "professional degrees," likely to improve access to federal student loans with favorable terms for students in these fields.

Key Provisions

Amends HEA Section 455(a)(4)(C): Modifies rules related to Direct Loan programs for professional students.
Removes reliance on an outdated regulatory definition from 34 CFR §668.2.
Adds a new definition of professional degree:
A degree signaling completion of academic requirements for professional practice (often needing licensure) and skills beyond a bachelor's level.
Explicitly lists degrees including:

| Degree Field | Examples | |--------------|----------| | Pharmacy | Pharm.D. | | Dentistry | D.D.S., D.M.D. | | Veterinary Medicine | D.V.M. | | Chiropractic | D.C., D.C.M. | | Law | L.L.B., J.D. | | Medicine | M.D. | | Optometry | O.D. | | Osteopathic Medicine | D.O. | | Podiatric Medicine | D.P.M., D.P., Pod.D. | | Theology | M.Div., M.H.L. | | Clinical Psychology | Psy.D., Ph.D. | | Nursing | MSN, DNP, DNAP, Ph.D. |

Allows the Secretary of Education to add other qualifying degrees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Shifts from a narrow regulatory definition (tied to pre-enactment CFR rules) to a broader, statutory list that explicitly includes advanced nursing degrees (previously not always classified as professional).
Provides flexibility for future expansions via the Secretary, reducing dependence on regulations.

Potential Impacts

Students: Nursing students (and others listed) may qualify as "professional students," gaining higher annual/aggregate Direct Loan limits, extended repayment options, and potentially lower interest burdens—easing entry into high-demand professions like nursing.
Government Agencies: U.S. Department of Education must implement updated definitions, process more loans under professional terms, and determine additional degrees; could increase federal loan volume slightly.
Higher Education: Nursing programs and schools benefit from easier student financing, potentially boosting enrollment.
No direct impact on international relations.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Nursing students and professionals: Primary beneficiaries via loan access.
Students in listed professional fields (e.g., medicine, law, pharmacy).
Colleges/universities offering these programs.
U.S. Department of Education: Administers changes to federal aid.
Federal loan servicers and taxpayers: Indirectly via loan costs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Clarifies and expands statutory definitions, preempting regulatory ambiguity; empowers Secretary for future adjustments without new laws.
Constitutional: None apparent; standard congressional authority over federal spending/education aid.
Political: Supports nursing workforce amid shortages by prioritizing advanced degrees; bipartisan sponsors signal broad appeal in healthcare policy.

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 (18)

Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]