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Advancing Graduate Education
Through Federal Policy

APWA is focused on federal policies that directly impact access to graduate education and the ability to sustain a highly skilled, workforce across critical sectors.

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Advocacy

APWA advocates at the federal level for regulatory and legislative solutions that expand access to graduate education.

Coalition

APWA brings together higher education, professional associations, and advocacy
organizations to represent voices across disciplines and workforce sectors.

Access

APWA leverages bipartisan engagement strategies to connect members with Congressional leaders and federal agencies.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

A Coalition Focused on Workforce Impact

 The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) was formed to advocate for professions that require graduate and postsecondary education and training.

Recent federal policy changes—including new student loan caps and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program—are reshaping access to graduate education. These changes have significant implications for workforce development across fields such as architecture, behavioral health, social work, health administration, occupational and physical therapy, naturopathic medicine, athletic training, and counseling

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA) is an advocacy organization dedicated to maximizing the federal investment in graduate education. APWA convenes higher education organizations, professional associations, and graduate education advocates—to advance policy on degree designation, federal funding, and workforce development

A National Coalition Representing
Critical Professions

APWA represents a diverse coalition of organizations spanning healthcare, public health, health professionals, education, infrastructure, and public service.

Our members include higher education organizations, professional associations, and advocacy groups working together to ensure federal policy reflects the realities of graduate education and workforce demand.

Through coordinated advocacy and strategic engagement, APWA amplifies the collective voice of professions that depend on advanced education to serve communities nationwide.

STEERING COMMITEE

Association of
Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges

Association for Athletic
Training Education

American Institute of
Architects

American Association
of Naturopathic
Physicians

American Occupational
Therapy Association

American Physical
Therapy Association

Association of Schools
and Programs of
Public Health

Association of
University Programs
in Health
Administration

National Athletic
Trainers’ Association

National Board for
Certified Counselors

VOTING MEMBERS

American Academy of
Physician Associates

American Association
of Veterinary
Medical Colleges

Accreditation Commission
for Acupuncture and
Herbal Medicine

American Council of
Academic Physical
Therapy

The American Health
Care Association

National Center for
Assisted Living

Association of Schools
Advancing Health
Professions

Council of Colleges
of Acupuncture and
Herbal Medicine

American Association
of Nurse Practitioners

NON-VOTING MEMBERS

American Association
for Marriage and
Family Therapy

Academy of Nutrition
and Dietetics

Association of
Collegiate Schools of
Architecture

ADVION

American Geriatrics
Society

American Music
Therapy Association

American Speech-
Language-Hearing
Association

Commission on
Accreditation of
Athletic Training
Education

Genetic Counselor
Educators Association

National Association
of Social Workers

National Board for
Certification in
Occupational Therapy

National Society of
Genetic Counselors

PA Education
Association

Policy Issues

APWA is focused on federal policies that directly impact access to graduate education and the ability to sustain a highly skilled workforce across critical sectors.

Access to Graduate Education Financing

Recent federal changes—including new student loan caps and the elimination of the Graduate PLUS loan program—are limiting access to graduate education for many students. These changes disproportionately impact programs in critical sectors.

Definition of “Professional Degrees”

Current and proposed federal definitions exclude many programs that meet the functional criteria of professional degrees. This limits access to financial aid and creates barriers for students entering professions critical to public health, education, and infrastructure. APWA advocates for policies that reflect the full range of professions requiring advanced education and training.

Workforce Pathway Stability

Restrictions on graduate education access create downstream workforce shortages across high-need sectors. Sustaining these workforce pathways is essential to meeting national demand and supporting community level services.

Federal Implementation & Timeline Considerations

Accelerated implementation of federal policy changes can disrupt institutional planning, financial aid systems, and student access.

APWA supports policy timelines that allow institutions and students to adapt while maintaining stability across the higher education system.

Insights

  • Illustration of a diploma and graduation cap surrounded by graduates

    The Department of Education Released Additional Guidance on the Professional Degree Designation

    The Department of Education Released Additional Guidance on the Professional Degree Designation

    On June 24, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia preliminarily stayed extra-statutory requirements that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) added to its professional degree definition under the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) final rule, which finalized the new federal student loan limits passed through The One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The court’s order, issued in the consolidated AANP v. McMahon and PA Educ. Assoc. v. ED cases, removes the rule’s added requirements, for the duration of the stay, that a professional degree be at the doctoral level, require six years of postsecondary coursework, fall within specified CIP code groupings, and require licensure to begin unsupervised practice. ED must now apply only the three-part statutory test in 34 CFR § 668.2 when designating professional degree programs. Based on the court ruling, on June 29, ED published an interim list of programs it will treat as awarding professional degrees for the duration of the court’s stay. With this list of additional programs, the update also includes a list of programs that are now no longer considered programs that award professional degrees for the duration of the stay. Programs now eligible for professional-level loan limits ($50,000 annual, $200,000 aggregate) include:

    • Physical Therapy (DPT)
    • Occupational Therapy (OTD/MSOT)
    • Athletic Training (MSAT/MAT)
    • Physician Associate/Assistant (MSPA/PA)
    • Audiology (AuD)
    • Speech-Language Pathology (SLP)
    • Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA)
    • Registered Nursing (MSN)
    • Nurse Anesthetist (DNAP)
    • Nursing Practice (DNP)
    • Additional clinical psychology subfields awarding the Psy.D.

    The stay is preliminary and remains in effect only pending further proceedings at the summary judgment stage. The government retains an immediate right to appeal the stay and could seek to have the appellate court reverse or pause the district court’s order. ED’s announcement states that these interim designations “may change as litigation proceeds.” In the same notice, ED recommends that institutions consider capping loan disbursements at graduate-level amounts for programs temporarily classified as professional, specifically to protect students if the stay is later reversed or narrowed. APWA urges lawmakers to pursue legislative action to reverse the policy.
  • Illustration of speakers at a podium with an APWA seal

    The American Institute of Architects and the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance Host Congressional Briefing on Federal Student Loan Cap Impacts

    The American Institute of Architects and the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance Host Congressional Briefing on Federal Student Loan Cap Impacts

    The American Institute of Architects with the support of The Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance held a highly successful congressional briefing on June 8, bringing together a diverse coalition of organizations and stakeholders to discuss the impacts of the Department of Education’s RISE final rule. Becca Damante from Senator Jeff Merkley’s (D-OR) office and Leo Mendoza from Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) office gave opening remarks, and participating organizations included the American Institute of Architects, the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges/the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the National Board for Certified Counselors, the American Physical Therapy Association, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and Association for Athletic Training Education and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

    The briefing featured a broad cross-section of voices from across the graduate education community, including association leaders, faculty, administrators, practitioners, and students. Speakers shared firsthand perspectives on how the final RISE rule could affect educational pathways, workforce development, and access to graduate education programs. The event generated significant interest on Capitol Hill, with attendance from numerous congressional offices. The room was filled to capacity, and demand exceeded available seating, underscoring the level of congressional engagement on this issue. The strong turnout and thoughtful discussion highlighted the widespread concern surrounding the final rule and the importance of ensuring that federal policy supports the nation’s advanced workforce pipeline.

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