Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

The "Nursing is a Professional Degree Act" proposes to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by introducing a formal definition for the term "professional degree." This amendment aims to clarify which academic programs qualify as professional for the purposes of the Act, potentially impacting student loan eligibility or other federal aid considerations. The bill defines a professional degree as one that signifies both the completion of academic requirements for beginning practice in a profession, often requiring licensure, and a level of professional skill beyond that typically required for a bachelor's degree. Significantly, it explicitly lists a range of degrees, including Pharmacy, Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and various nursing degrees such as MSN, DNP, DNAP, and Ph.D. This comprehensive list also allows the Secretary to determine other degrees that meet the established criteria.