H.R. 6718: Professional Student Degree Act
Sponsor
Michael Lawler
Republican · NY-17
Bill broadens federal professional degree list
Why it matters
Introduced on December 15, 2025, H.R. 6718 would immediately reshape which graduate and professional programs count as "professional degrees" under federal higher education law.
That makes this a broader education-policy bill than its title suggests. It is not limited to doctors and lawyers; it reaches into health professions, ministry, social work, business, architecture, education, and accounting. Just as important, the bill gives the Secretary of Education ongoing authority to recognize "any other degree" that fits the statutory test in subclause (I), meaning the list could keep expanding without Congress having to pass a new law every time a profession evolves.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Dec 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
H.R. 6718 Bill Summary
What H.R. 6718 actually does.
Amends Higher Education Act section 455(a)(4)(C)
H.R. 6718 changes section 455(a)(4)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, codified at 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C), to rewrite the federal definition of a professional degree.
Deletes old 34 C.F.R. 668.2 cross-reference
The bill strikes the phrase referring to "section 668.2 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph)" from clause (ii), replacing a regulation-based reference with new statutory text.
Sets 2-part test for professional degrees
The new definition says a professional degree must meet 2 conditions: it must signify completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a profession where licensure is commonly required, and it must reflect a level of professional skill beyond what is normally required for a bachelor's degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
Names more than 20 covered degree categories
The bill specifically lists degrees from pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and law (L.L.B. or J.D.) to clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.), social work (M.S.W. or D.S.W.), public health (M.P.H.), business administration (M.B.A. or D.B.A.), accounting (M.Acc. or M.S.A.), architecture (M.Arch.), and education degrees such as M.A., M.S., M.A.T., and M.Ed.
Adds newer health-profession degrees by name
The bill explicitly includes audiology (Au.D.), physician assistant or associate degrees including M.P.A.S., M.S.P.A.S., M.M.S., or M.S., occupational therapy listed as M.O.T. of O.T.D., physical therapy (D.P.T.), and nursing degrees including M.S.N., D.N.P., or Ph.D.
Gives Secretary open-ended recognition power
Under subclause (yy), "any other degree" can be treated as a professional degree if it meets the requirements of subclause (I), with the Secretary of Education deciding whether it qualifies.
Who benefits from H.R. 6718?
Students in newly listed graduate programs
Students pursuing degrees now named in the bill—such as M.P.H., M.B.A., M.Acc., M.Arch., M.S.W., Au.D., D.P.T., and M.S.N.—would have clearer recognition in federal law because H.R. 6718 expressly includes those credentials.
Health profession programs beyond medicine
Programs in physician assistant or associate studies, occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology, nursing, podiatry, optometry, and chiropractic benefit because the bill names credentials like M.P.A.S., O.T.D., D.P.T., Au.D., D.N.P., D.P.M., O.D., and D.C.
Colleges and universities offering professional master's degrees
Institutions offering master's-level programs in business, accounting, public health, education, special education, architecture, and social work gain from having degrees like M.B.A., M.S.A., M.P.H., M.Ed., M.S.Ed., M.Arch., and M.S.W. spelled out directly in federal statute.
Emerging professions seeking federal recognition
Fields not specifically listed could still benefit because subclause (yy) lets the Secretary of Education recognize any other degree that satisfies the 2-part statutory test in subclause (I).
Who is affected by H.R. 6718?
Secretary of Education
The Secretary gets explicit authority to determine whether a degree shows completion of academic requirements for beginning practice and a level of skill beyond a bachelor's degree, and to decide if "any other degree" qualifies under subclause (yy).
Graduate and professional students under federal aid law
Because the bill amends 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(4)(C), students covered by federal higher-education rules tied to that section could be treated differently depending on whether their degree—such as a J.D., D.O., M.P.H., or M.Ed.—now fits the professional-degree definition.
Programs left to case-by-case review
Degrees not specifically named in items (aa) through (xx) would still be affected because they may need a determination from the Secretary of Education under item (yy) instead of receiving automatic inclusion.
Federal education administrators and regulators
Agencies administering the Higher Education Act would need to apply the new statutory list and stop relying on the deleted reference to 34 C.F.R. 668.2 "as in effect on the date of enactment of this paragraph."
HR6718 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Dec 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Michael Lawler
Republican, New York's 17th congressional district · 3 years in Congress
Committees: Foreign Affairs, Financial Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (25)
This bill has 25 cosponsors: 8 Democrats, 17 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 16 states: California, District of Columbia, Florida, and 13 more.
Don Bacon
Republican · NE
Robert Bresnahan
Republican · PA
Jennifer Kiggans
Republican · VA
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Daniel Meuser
Republican · PA
Nicole Malliotakis
Republican · NY
Mark Alford
Republican · MO
Ryan Mackenzie
Republican · PA
Dusty Johnson
Republican · SD
Maggie Goodlander
Democrat · NH
Joe Wilson
Republican · SC
James Walkinshaw
Democrat · VA
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
3 of 37 committee members cosponsored
17 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 6718 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Dec 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Dec 15, 2025
Who is lobbying on H.R. 6718?
14 organizations lobbying on this bill
TOURO UNIVERSITY | 8 |
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATES | 2 |
COUNCIL ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION | 2 |
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | 2 |
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING | 2 |
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS | 2 |
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS | 1 |
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF NURSING | 1 |
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER | 1 |
AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION | 1 |
Showing 1-10 of 14 organizations
H.R. 6718 Common Questions
Does H.R. 6718 include MBA degrees as professional degrees under federal law?
Yes. Under the Professional Student Degree Act, M.B.A. and D.B.A. degrees are specifically listed as professional degrees in Section 2.
Can education master's degrees count as professional degrees under H.R. 6718?
Yes. Under the Professional Student Degree Act (Section 2), education degrees including M.A., M.S., M.A.T., and M.Ed. are expressly included, along with special education M.Ed. and M.S.Ed.
Is a public health MPH treated as a professional degree in the Professional Student Degree Act?
Yes. The Professional Student Degree Act lists the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) as a professional degree in Section 2.
Does H.R. 6718 classify nursing degrees like MSN or DNP as professional degrees?
Yes. According to H.R. 6718 Section 2, nursing degrees including M.S.N., D.N.P., and Ph.D. are included in the federal professional degree definition.
Can physician assistant or physician associate degrees qualify as professional degrees under H.R. 6718?
Yes. Under the Professional Student Degree Act (Section 2), M.P.A.S., M.S.P.A.S., M.M.S., and certain M.S. physician assistant or associate degrees are specifically covered.
Are social work degrees like MSW and DSW included in H.R. 6718?
Yes. H.R. 6718 Section 2 names M.S.W. and D.S.W. as professional degrees under the new federal definition.
Which accounting degrees are treated as professional degrees in the Professional Student Degree Act?
Section 2 of the Professional Student Degree Act specifically includes M.Acc. and M.S.A. as professional degrees.
What are the two requirements for a degree to count as a professional degree under H.R. 6718?
According to H.R. 6718 Section 2, the degree must qualify someone to begin practice in a profession where licensure is commonly required and reflect skill beyond a bachelor's level, as determined by the Secretary.
Can the Secretary of Education recognize other degrees not listed in H.R. 6718?
Yes. Under the Professional Student Degree Act (Section 2), the Secretary of Education may treat any other degree as a professional degree if it meets the bill's general test.
Does H.R. 6718 remove the old federal regulation reference in 34 C.F.R. 668.2?
Yes. H.R. 6718 Section 2 strikes the cross-reference to 34 C.F.R. 668.2 and replaces it with a new statutory definition of professional degree.
Based on H.R. 6718 bill text
Full Bill Text
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