Nursing is a Professional Degree Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would redefine “professional degree” under the Higher Education Act to explicitly include nursing degrees and other listed health and professional degrees. It replaces a regulation-based cross-reference with a statutory definition that sets a two-part test for what counts as a professional degree.
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- Nursing students and programs: Nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, DNAP, Ph.D.) would be explicitly listed as professional degrees, which could change how nursing programs are recognized under federal higher education policy.
- Other fields and students: The bill names specific degrees as professional degrees, including 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.), and Clinical Psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.).
- Education Department authority: It removes the prior Code of Federal Regulations cross-reference and gives the Secretary of Education authority to decide if additional degrees meet the statutory standard of practice-readiness and a skill level above a bachelor’s degree.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Nursing degrees counted as professional degrees
This bill would change how the Higher Education Act defines a "professional degree." It would remove the existing cross-reference to 34 C.F.R. § 668.2 and add a new statutory definition. The new definition would require a degree to (1) show completion of the academic requirements to begin professional practice (where licensure is commonly required) and (2) represent more professional skill than a bachelor’s degree. The bill would explicitly list many degrees that count, including 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.), and Nursing (MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D.). The Secretary of Education would also be able to treat any other degree that meets the stated standard as a professional degree. If enacted, students, academic programs, and federal student loan borrowers could see changes in which programs qualify for certain federal rules and regulatory treatment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
OH • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov