S4568
Referred to committee
Nursing is a Professional Degree Act
- Federal
- Senate
- Introduced May 19, 2026
- Session 119
Bill Text
Version ISThis Act may be cited as the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act.
Section 455(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C)) is amended—
in clause (ii), by striking , as defined under section 668.2 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph),; and
by adding at the end the following:
In this paragraph, the term professional degree —
means a degree that signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession (for which professional licensure is also commonly required), and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree; and
includes each of the following:
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 or Osteopathy (D.O.).
Podiatric Medicine or Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.).
Theology or 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 requirements of subclause (I), as determined by the Secretary.
Section 455(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C)) is amended—
in clause (ii), by striking , as defined under section 668.2 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph),; and
by adding at the end the following:
In this paragraph, the term professional degree —
means a degree that signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession (for which professional licensure is also commonly required), and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree; and
includes each of the following:
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 or Osteopathy (D.O.).
Podiatric Medicine or Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.).
Theology or 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 requirements of subclause (I), as determined by the Secretary.
Legislative Timeline
2 actions-
Introduced in Senate
-
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.