As many are now aware, there was recently a Department of Education (DOE) nursing education policy update, implying that graduate nursing programs are no longer considered “professional degrees,” which affects student loan limits for advanced degrees.

This change has raised many questions among candidates regarding whether and how this change impacts their petition, as well as its implications for career development.

What You Need to Know

The short answer is that this policy change does not impact your petition.

Here is what’s important:

1.      This is a financial classification issue only.

It does not affect the nurse petition process, immigration requirements, or licensure standards.

2.      Nursing organizations are actively advocating for change.

Their efforts focus on restoring equitable access to graduate-level education.

3.      Your career path remains strong and supported.

WWHS is committed to providing reliable international nursing career guidance and clear, trustworthy information.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that you may still have questions, and we encourage you to speak with your Case Manager or visit the WWHS website to explore additional support options. In the meantime, we can address some of the most common questions we’ve seen in our online communities:

Q: Is nursing still a profession?

A: Yes. Nursing is still a profession. Nothing in this update changes that. It remains a licensed, regulated, and globally respected field.

Q: Is nursing no longer a professional degree?

A: No. The Department of Education did not redefine nursing. They only changed how specific graduate programs are categorized for federal borrowing limits. This is a financial matter, not a professional judgment.

Q: Does the Department of Education change affect nurses?

A: It does not affect licensure, immigration, or your petition. It only affects the amount of federal loans graduate nursing students can borrow.

Q: What are the implications for my nursing career, immigration process, or advanced education?

A: Your career and immigration journey remain fully supported and unchanged. The only potential impact is for students already pursuing or planning to pursue advanced graduate degrees, who may encounter lower federal loan caps.

DOE Update Summary

This update does not alter the status of nursing as a profession, nor does it affect your immigration process, future licensure, or credibility as a nurse.

• It is a change to federal loan rules for students in graduate nursing programs as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
• It lowers the annual federal loan cap for graduate nursing students to $20,500 and the lifetime cap to $100,000.
• Your petition remains fully valid, and your international nursing career journey continues as usual.

At WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions, our goal is to provide clear nursing petition guidance and to ensure you have reliable information throughout your journey.



Fact Check: Nursing Is Absolutely Still a Profession

There has been confusion circulating online, particularly on social media and other online community forums. Many candidates worry that this update somehow means nursing is no longer recognized as a profession. This is not true!

• Nursing continues to be a licensed and regulated field with rigorous educational requirements, legal responsibilities, and global respect.
• The Department of Education’s proposal affects how specific graduate programs are categorized for federal student loan borrowing.
• It does not alter licensure standards, scope of practice, or the standing of nursing within international nurse recruitment and the broader healthcare system.

What Actually Happened

• In late 2025, the Department of Education proposed removing several graduate-level programs from the professional degree loan category.
• Affected nursing programs include: MSN, DNP, NP, and CRNA, social work, public health, and occupational therapy.
• The impact of this change is strictly financial.
• Students in the reclassified programs will now face lower federal borrowing limits.
• Programs that remain in the professional degree category, like medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, continue to qualify for higher lifetime borrowing caps under the new rules.

Nursing’s Professional Status Remains Fully Intact

Nursing continues to meet all the criteria of a recognized profession. This update does not affect your nurse petition process. It does not impact immigration requirements or your eligibility to continue your international nursing career guidance with WWHS.

• Licensure and Regulation:
  

Nurses must complete accredited programs, pass the NCLEX or APRN boards, and maintain state licensure. None of these requirements are connected to federal student loan classifications.

• Professional Responsibility:
  

Nurses carry legal and ethical accountability for patient care. This responsibility is central to professional practice and remains unchanged.

• Global Recognition:
  

Nursing is respected worldwide as a rigorous clinical profession. No loan category can affect that status.

DOE Update Concerns: The Real Challenge

The true concern about this update is access to financing for graduate nursing education. Exclusion from the professional degree loan category may make advanced programs, such as NP, CRNA, or DNP, more difficult for some students to afford. This could have long-term implications for workforce shortages.

So what’s being done?

• Important nursing organizations, including the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, have already issued strong statements opposing the change. They are actively advocating for nursing programs to be reinstated in the professional degree category.
• This advocacy is focused on financial fairness and workforce protection. It is not about nursing’s legitimacy, because nursing’s legitimacy is not in question.
• Over the years, research has shown that federal loan limits can influence how colleges set tuition. When borrowing limits increase, some institutions raise prices, and when limits are lower, tuition growth tends to slow.

While this context shaped the Department of Education’s decision, we reiterate that it does not affect your petition, your licensure, or your standing as a professional nurse.

Are you currently working with us? Please contact your advisor with any questions you may have, and for clear guidance on nursing petition procedures. For new candidates interested in exploring international nursing jobs, please visit the  WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions website to sign up!