The Relentless School Nurse: Degrees at Risk of Losing Professional Classification – Now What?

This post is a follow-up to The Relentless School Nurse: The Department of Education’s Policy Shift Undermines Nursing as a Profession, drilling deeper into the scope and seriousness of the Department of Education’s new plan to redefine professional graduate degrees. The risk extends far beyond nursing; this policy threatens the public service heartbeat of our communities.

The Department of Education’s proposed reclassification is not bureaucratic red tape; it’s a direct blow to the professions that support and uplift our schools, clinics, and neighborhoods. Advanced degrees equip nurses, educators, social workers, public health leaders, therapists, and others to care for students, advocate for equitable health, and lead families through adversity. Our training is more than an individual achievement; it’s foundational for the safety and well-being of society.​

This isn’t about one profession. Education, social work (MSW, DSW), public health (MPH, DrPH), physician assistant studies, occupational and physical therapy, audiology, speech-language pathology, business, engineering, counseling, and therapy degrees all stand to lose federal recognition as “professional”. Without that distinction, graduate students will face decreased loan and forgiveness access, threatening the pipeline of experts our country relies on. ​

If these degrees become harder to afford, they become harder to pursue. Our schools, health care systems, and community organizations will be left struggling to find adequately prepared professionals, and the families who count on our skill and compassion will feel the effects immediately.

Now is the time to stay alert and ready. Watch for the upcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), and prepare to submit your public comment. Every profession touched by this rule must unite and speak up—education is not a technicality, it is a necessity for the well-being of every student and every family. Share your story, mobilize your networks, and help preserve graduate degrees for those called to serve. Our collective voice matters more than ever. Let’s protect the future of public service—and the very workforce America depends on.

To take action on the Department of Education’s proposed reclassification, use these resources and steps:

How to Contact Congress

• Find your Representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representativehouse​

• Find your Senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm​

• Call the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 to reach any member of Congress directly.​

How to Submit a Public Comment

• When the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) opens, public comments can be submitted via the online Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.govfederalregister​​

• There will be a 30-day window for submitting comments after the NPRM opens, which is expected within the coming weeks. ​

NPRM Timeline

• The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is expected to be published in the coming weeks, with a public comment period lasting 30 days.​

Suggested Response for Submitting a Public Comment

To the Department of Education:

I strongly oppose the proposed redefinition that excludes nursing, education, social work, public health, therapy, and other community-serving graduate degrees from professional degree status. These programs require advanced academic preparation, licensed practice, and ongoing professional development, all of which are foundational to effective service in schools, hospitals, and communities.

Changing their classification will harm educational access, worsen staff shortages, and erode public trust in vital professions at a time when communities need us most. I urge you to revise the definition to specifically include these disciplines, maintain federal funding access for graduate students, and recognize the indispensable role these professionals play in protecting and advancing public health, education, and well-being.

Thank you for your attention and for supporting a future workforce that meets the diverse needs of our nation. 

Let’s make our collective voices heard—contact your elected officials and prepare to submit a public comment as soon as the NPRM opens. These actions are critical for protecting the value and accessibility of graduate education in every community.