Federal Regulatory Definition of Professional Degree
The Department of Education's Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee needs to explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the regulatory definition of "professional degree programs" when creating rules to implement the Opportunities for Borrowers to Build Better Alternatives (OBBBA) Act.
"Recognizing post-baccalaureate nursing education as a professional degree is critical to building a stronger health care workforce and preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the nation's needs. This designation affirms the vital role of advanced nursing education in all areas of nursing practice – clinical care delivery, academia and leadership. Without advanced nursing education funding, there is even greater risk of workforce shortages in an already strained environment as there will be fewer nurses entering and advancing within the profession.
With many advanced degree-seeking nursing students carrying significant loan debt, ensuring they receive the same recognition and resources as peers in other health disciplines is essential to a sustainable future for nursing. Failing to recognize nursing as a professional degree will severely restrict access to funding for graduate nursing education, undermining efforts to grow and sustain the nursing workforce."
AONL Position
AONL recommends the RISE Committee explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs, as outlined under the "Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences" series of Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes (Series 51), in the regulatory definition of "professional degree programs."
Why This Matters
Recognition as a professional degree program ensures that nursing students have access to the same federal funding opportunities as their peers in medicine, law, and other health professions. This is essential for:
- Building and sustaining the nursing workforce
- Reducing financial barriers to advanced nursing education
- Addressing critical healthcare workforce shortages
- Ensuring equitable treatment across health professions
Key Resources
- NCC Supports Nursing as a Professional Degree (PDF)
- AHA Fact Sheet (Coming Soon)
- Understanding CIP Code Series 51