The American Physical Therapy Association continues its advocacy against the U.S. Department of Education's proposal that would sharply limit federal student loan access for doctor of physical therapy students and students seeking degrees in dozens of other professions. With the department expected to finalize the rule by July 1, APTA warns that the proposal undermines the educational path for future PTs and risks the stability of the PT workforce and patient access to care.

The proposal stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which directed the Department of Education to further define, through rulemaking, which degrees are classified as a graduate or professional degree. However, the department's proposal failed to follow Congress's intent. As a result, the DPT — and dozens of other provider degrees — were not recognized as a professional degree, despite meeting the federal regulatory definition. The proposal, if finalized, would subject PT students to restrictive annual and lifetime loan caps that fall short of the actual cost of pursuing a doctoral degree while simultaneously removing access to federal Graduate PLUS loans. This would limit who can enter the profession at a time of growing workforce shortages and increasing demand for physical therapist services. It should be noted that the department's proposed degree definition is solely for eligibility for federal student loans and does not impact the recognition of a degree in terms of payment, scope of practice, or other purposes.

While APTA supports reforms to lower tuition costs and make education more affordable for more students, federal student loans play a critical role in ensuring prospective students' access to physical therapist education. The department's proposal would abruptly shut off access to this critical stream of funding and is being implemented in such a heavy-handed manner with little stakeholder input.

APTA: The DPT Clearly Meets the Definition of a Professional Degree

In its formal comments to the Department of Education submitted March 2 on the department's proposed rule, APTA made clear that the doctor of physical therapy degree already meets the federal definition of a professional degree and should be treated accordingly.

As APTA emphasized, the DPT signifies completion of the academic requirements for entry into professional practice, requires a level of professional skill beyond a bachelor's degree, and is directly tied to licensure in every state.

Proposed Loan Changes Would Harm Students, the Profession, and Patients

APTA warned in its official comments that the proposed changes to loan access would severely harm the physical therapy profession by limiting prospective students' access to federal funds needed to cover tuition, fees, and basic cost-of-living expenses throughout their programs.

Without adequate access to federal student loans, APTA cautioned that many prospective students would be forced to rely on higher-cost private loans or be deterred from entering the profession altogether. Either outcome would further exacerbate PT workforce shortages at a time when demand for physical therapist services continues to grow.

Advocacy by the Numbers

APTA has helped lead a national coordinated advocacy campaign to protect students, the profession, and patient access to care:

• August 2025: APTA submits comments for the record to the Department of Education's Reimagining and Improving Student Education, or RISE, Committee, while also joining a coalition of 40-plus national provider organizations in submitting joint comments as the RISE Committee convenes to begin work on a proposal.
• October 2025: APTA joins with the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions and the Patients Access to Responsible Care Alliance in comment letters to the RISE Committee.
• November 2025–January 2026: 35,000-plus emails are sent by APTA members to Congress through grassroots advocacy urging Congressional intervention with the Department of Education on this issue.
• December 2025: APTA works with congressional champions, resulting in bipartisan letters to the Secretary of Education and several U.S. House bills aimed at blocking the proposed definition of professional degree, including a D 5, 2025, letter led by Rep. Timothy Kennedy, D-N.Y., and signed by 69 other U.S. House members to Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
• February 2026: APTA helps lead the founding of the new Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance, or APWA, consisting of dozens of impact professions aimed at coordinating advocacy efforts. APTA is a steering committee member of APWA and is helping lead the alliance's efforts.
• March 2026: APTA members send 2,727 letters to Members of Congress through the APTA Patient Action Center, while APTA submits formal comments to the Department of Education in response to the proposed rule and issues a Congressional issue brief to continue pushing for congressional intervention.

What's Next

This issue will be part of APTA’s Capitol Hill Day events this April 20-21. The Department of Education must finalize the rule by July 1.

APTA will continue pressing the Department of Education, Congress, and, if necessary, the courts to ensure the DPT degree is appropriately classified as a professional degree and that federal student loan policy supports, rather than undermines, the physical therapy workforce and patient access to care.

Be sure to sign up for the APTA Advocacy Network to stay up to date on the latest happenings and ways to get involved.