Creator: Patrick Connole
Feds Issue Notice on Rule to Change Nursing Profession Definition
The Dept. of Education has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to change the definition of a professional degree, which if finalized, could severely affect the ability of certain nursing students from having access to federal education lo
The Dept. of Education has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to change the definition of a professional degree, which if finalized, could severely affect the ability of certain nursing students from having access to federal education loans at a time the skilled nursing profession is in dire need of such skill sets.
The Education Dept. wants to eliminate the Grad Plus loans for higher education degrees that are not categorized as “professional,” which puts graduate nursing student in danger of losing access to federal loan limits once available to them.
“Under President Trump’s OBBBA, the department’s rulemaking will eliminate the Grad PLUS program, which has fueled unsustainable student loan borrowing, cap Parent PLUS Loans, sunset the confusing maze of student loan repayment plans created by the Obama and Biden administrations and create a new and simplified Repayment Assistance Plan,” the department said when it announced its plans in late fall of last year.
Industry groups like the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) are preparing to submit comments on the NPRM to raise issues with the proposal.
The association said if the rule becomes final, health practitioner degrees, such as those for being a physical therapist or advanced practice nurse, would not be professional degrees and thus adversely impact loan amounts.
According to the Education Dept., the degrees that follow are professional: Chiropractic (DC or DCM); Clinical psychology (PhD or PsyD); Dentistry (DDS or DMD); Law (LLB or JD); Medicine (MD); Pharmacy (PharmD); Podiatry (DPM, DP or PodD); Optometry (OD); Osteopathic medicine (DO); Theology (MDiv or MH); and, Veterinary medicine (DVM).
Nursing did not make the list.
The department also said that starting July 1, 2026, annual loans for new borrowers will be capped at $20,500 for graduate students (with a $100,000 aggregate limit) and $50,000 for professional students (with a $200,000 aggregate limit).
Read the NPRM at https://tinyurl.com/yxbukf3k.
Comments on the NPRM are due on March 2.
Questions or comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.
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