H.R. 8659 – Nursing is a Professional Degree Act

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Updated May 12, 2026 at 5:52 AM UTC

H.R. 8659 changes the Higher Education Act’s definition of a “professional student.” It adds a clear definition of a “professional degree,” describing it as a degree that prepares someone for licensed practice and goes beyond a bachelor’s level. The amendment lists specific professional degrees—including nursing master’s and doctoral programs—so that students in those fields are treated as professional students for federal education programs.

Key Provisions

Removes a reference to a specific CFR definition that previously limited the term “professional student.”
Adds a new definition of “professional degree” that requires completion of academic requirements for licensed practice and a skill level beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Specifies a list of degrees that qualify as professional degrees, such as pharmacy (Pharm.D.), dentistry (D.D.S./D.M.D.), veterinary medicine (D.V.M.), chiropractic (D.C./D.C.M.), law (J.D./L.L.B.), medicine (M.D.), optometry (O.D.), osteopathic medicine (D.O.), podiatric medicine (D.P.M.), theology (M.Div./M.H.L.), clinical psychology (Psy.D./Ph.D.), and nursing (MSN, DNP, DNAP, Ph.D.).
Allows the Secretary of Education to add any other degree that meets the new criteria.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

May 4, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 4, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

May 4, 2026

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 8659 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Jennifer A. KiggansR-VA-2 · May 12, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) as cosponsor of H.R. 8659.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 4, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8659

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 4, 2026

Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself, Mrs. Beatty, and Mr. Bergman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act.

2.

Professional student and professional degree defined

Section 455(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C)) is amended—

(1)

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

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(iii)

Professional degree

In this paragraph, the term professional degree—

(I)

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

(II)

includes each of the following degrees:

(aa)

Pharmacy (Pharm.D.).

(bb)

Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.).

(cc)

Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.).

(dd)

Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.).

(ee)

Law (L.L.B. or J.D.).

(ff)

Medicine (M.D.).

(gg)

Optometry (O.D.).

(hh)

Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (D.O.).

(ii)

Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.).

(jj)

Theology/Theological Studies (M.Div. or M.H.L.).

(kk)

Clinical Psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.).

(ll)

Nursing (MSN, DNP, DNAP, or Ph.D).

(mm)

Any other degree that meets the requirements of subclause (I), as determined by the Secretary.

.