Accountancy could be losing its professional degree status under President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA).
The US Department of Education is reclassifying degrees as professional and non-professional, and there will be a narrower definition for professional degrees.
Those still deemed to be professional (and there are 11 categories) include medicine, law and pharmacy. However, accountancy, architecture, nursing and occupational therapy will be among those excluded, with the changes taking effect from 1 July 2026.
Those undertaking ‘professional’ degrees qualify for higher loan limits, so the worry is that losing professional status will create more barriers for low-income, first-generation and mid-career students.
It has also been suggested that the changes disproportionately affect women, with many occupations losing their professional status dominated by women.
