Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

Summary of HR 8691 (119th Congress) – Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

Purpose and intent

• The bill aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 by redefining what constitutes a “professional degree” for the purposes of the Act.
• The short title is the “Nursing is a Professional Degree Act,” signaling a specific focus on recognizing nursing at a professional degree level within the broader framework of federal higher education policy.

Key provisions

• Definition change: The bill amends Section 455(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

  • It removes an existing cross-reference to a definition in 34 CFR 668.2 (as in effect on enactment date), replacing it with a new, explicit definition of “PROFESSIONAL DEGREE.”
  • The new definition consists of two parts:
  • A general criterion: A degree that signifies both:
    • completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession (often accompanied by the expectation of licensure), and
    • a level of professional skill beyond what is normally required for a bachelor’s degree.
  • A enumerated list of degree types that are expressly recognized as professional degrees under this Act, 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/Osteopathy (D.O.)
    • Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)
    • Theology/Theological Studies (M.Div. or M.H.L.)
    • Clinical Psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.)
    • Nursing (MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D.)
    • Any other degree that meets the broader criteria in subparagraph (I), as determined by the Secretary of Education.

• Notably, the list includes Nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, DNAP, Ph.D.) among the formally recognized professional degrees, and also authorizes inclusion of other degrees that meet the defined standard as determined by the Secretary.

Who/what would be affected

• Students and institutions: Postsecondary students pursuing professional degrees (as defined by the Act) and institutions administering federal programs under the Higher Education Act may be affected by how degrees are categorized for purposes like eligibility for federal programs, funding, reporting, and compliance.
• Nursing programs and the broader field of professional education: By explicitly recognizing nursing as a professional degree, the bill elevates nursing within federal classification and may influence program support, licensure alignment, and related policy considerations.
• Secretary of Education: Given the authority to determine “any other degree” that fits the new standard, the Secretary would have discretionary power to add other recognized professional degrees over time.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Status: Introduced in the House on May 7, 2026.
• Referral: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• As a bill amending the Higher Education Act, passage would require approval by both chambers of Congress and the President (enactment into law) for implementation.

Potential impact and considerations

• The explicit inclusion of Nursing among professional degrees could influence federal program eligibility criteria, reporting, and allocation of resources tied to professional education under the Higher Education Act.
• By defining “professional degree” with both a standard criterion and a listed set of degrees, the bill provides clarity for program administrators and policymakers, reducing ambiguity about which degrees qualify for certain purposes.
• The Secretary’s broad authority to add other degrees that meet the standard could lead to future expansions beyond the enumerated list.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison to current law definitions, or outline potential fiscal and regulatory implications based on how professional degree status interacts with federal student aid and related programs.