Utah continues to face growing health care workforce shortages, particularly in rural communities and rapidly expanding population centers. A proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) now threatens to worsen this challenge by restricting the educational pathway for essential health care professionals.
In early November, ED proposed redefining “professional program” in a way that would exclude physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists and other critical clinicians from eligibility for higher federal graduate student loan limits.
If finalized, the rule would impose a $25,000 annual loan cap beginning in July 2026, which is far below the actual cost of PA and NP programs. For many Utah students, this would make advanced clinical training financially unattainable and further strain an already limited workforce.
Congress has raised bipartisan concerns that ED’s proposal does not align with the law or Congress’s intention when it passed updates to federal student loans through HR1.
The Utah Academy of Physician Assistants and the Utah Nurse Practitioners urge Utah’s members of Congress and U.S. senators to join those who are working to ensure this proposed cap will not be finalized. We must protect access to federal student loans for the clinicians our communities depend on.
Utah Academy of Physician Assistants
Utah Nurse Practitioners