Nursing No Longer Professional Degree
Now President Donald Trump administration redefines which degrees are considered professional many graduate students are left with multiple queries and worries about how to finance and education.
trump professional degrees
Department of Education Professional Degrees
With current list and definition of professional degrees used by Department of Education which omits some professions like nursing here is the information which programs are listed and what it could mean for students.
What is a professional degree?
The confusion rises from 1965 federal law which defines a professional degree as one that signifies both completion of the academic requirements for practice in given profession and level of professional skill beyond that normally required for bachelor degree.
The definition goes on to list example of professional degree
Theology
Podiatry
Optometry
Osteophatic Medicine
Medicine
Chiropractic
Veterinary Medicine
Dentistry
Pharmacy
Definition states that list is not exhaustive and professional licensure is generally required past Department of Education meeting this fall to discuss student loan regulation and issues have used description that include on those ten degrees.
Trump Professional Degrees
Mutliple graduate programs are left off professional degree list consist of nursing, sparking replies from national companies and group advocating for broader range of degrees to be represent under the umbrella
trump professional degrees
Why is nursing not a professional degree
In Aug 28 letter to Office of Postsecondary Education the American Council on Education has pushed for changing the definition and adding more programs consist of nursing architecture, accounting, therapy, physical therapy, special education, public health.
The American Nurses Association has show worries with current definition with Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy saying in letter that excluding nursing will restrict access to funding for graduate nursing education undermining attempt to grow and sustain nursing workforce.
List of degrees that are not professional: are nursing professional degrees
The definition is being used in discussion surrounding student loan caps under the Trump Administration Big Beautiful Bill which could impact how much students are allowed to borrow.
The bill reduced the GradPlus Loan Program which has helped student to progress careers in medicine law and other careers limiting them to $20,000 per year per student with $65 000 total limit.
trump professional degrees
What degrees are not considered professional
Graduate students pursuing professional degrees on defined list are able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 overall.
Students in program not listed on the list as professional degree could face lower loan cap when pursuing those programs.
trump professional degrees
