Nursing has historically been recognized as a professional degree, especially from the early 20th century onward, with formal education, standardized curricula, and specialized training required for licensure and practice in most states and countries. However, as of late 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that nursing is excluded from its new definition of "professional degree" programs, which has led to significant debate and impact on nursing education and funding.

Historical Development as a Professional Degree

• In the early 1900s, standardized training and registration requirements were implemented, marking nursing as a regulated, professional discipline.

• By the mid-20th century, nursing education shifted primarily to colleges and universities, with formal degree tracks like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

• Graduate programs such as the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) have long been considered professional degrees.

Recent Regulatory Changes

• In November 2025, the Department of Education excluded nursing from its recognized "professional degree" category for student aid and program classification, diverging from previous recognition.

• This reclassification does not change licensure or professional standing in clinical practice, but may affect funding, public perception, and access to financial aid for advanced nursing education.

• Nursing organizations advocate for reversing this decision, stressing that nursing's rigorous education, licensure, and direct patient care meet all criteria for professional status.

International Perspective

• In the UK and other countries, legislation and academic developments since the early 20th century have confirmed nursing as a profession, with degree-based qualification required since 2009 in the UK.

• Globally, nursing continues to be considered a professional discipline despite regulatory shifts in select regions like the US.

Conclusion

Nursing has been a professional degree for over a century, supported by formal training, regulation, and higher education requirements. The recent US regulatory changes only affect classification within federal funding and education policy, not the practice or licensure of nurses, but have sparked significant advocacy to maintain recognition of nursing as a professional field.