11/21/2025
Did you know proposed changes to federal student loans could exclude SLP, OT, and PT graduate programs?
The Department of Education is narrowing the definition of a “professional degree program.” While fields like medicine and dentistry made the list, essential rehabilitation professions—SLP, OT, and PT—are currently excluded in the draft.
This isn't just semantics. Losing this designation could mean lower federal borrowing limits for future students, forcing them toward high-interest private loans and potentially worsening workforce shortages in hospitals and schools.
These programs require advanced degrees, national certification, and intense clinical experience. They meet every standard of a "professional degree."
The Call to Action: A public comment period will open soon. It is vital that universities, clinicians, students, and employers speak up to propose revisions.
Keep an eye out for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and get ready to advocate for the future of rehabilitation therapy.