This bill would change the federal definition of "professional degree" in the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C)). It removes a cross-reference to the Code of Federal Regulations and adds a new, explicit definition. The new definition says a professional degree is a degree that both signals completion of the academic requirements to begin practice in a given profession (often tied to licensure) and represents training beyond a bachelor’s degree, as decided by the Secretary of Education. The bill then lists many specific degrees that would be included, such as Pharm.D., D.D.S./D.M.D., D.V.M., J.D., M.D., O.D., D.O., Psy.D./Ph.D. in clinical psychology, M.B.A., M.Arch., M.Ed., M.P.H., D.P.T., D.N.P., M.S.W., Au.D., and others. It also allows the Secretary to include other degrees that meet the definition.
The bill changes which graduate and professional programs are formally called "professional degrees" under the Higher Education Act. If you are a student, borrower, educator, or school administrator, this defined list would be the federal reference for which programs count as professional-degree programs under that part of federal law. The bill text itself does not state specific effects beyond setting the definition.
No publicly available information.
The bill was introduced by Representative Michael Lawler with multiple co-sponsors. No publicly available information on proponents' specific arguments or stated rationale is included in the bill text or provided metadata.
No publicly available information.