Take Action Now: Help to Ensure Social Work Remains a Professional Degree

NASW membership helps us to push for legislation that benefit social workers across the world as well as the clients they serve. As the largest membership association advocating on behalf of social workers, consider adding your voice to our efforts and join/renew your NASW membership today.

The Department of Education (DOE) has updated its definition of "professional degrees," a classification that determines federal student loan eligibility for graduate programs. Historically, social work has been recognized as a professional degree, allowing MSW students to access federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and other critical funding. Under the proposed rule, social work would no longer meet the professional degree criteria, creating significant financial barriers for students. This change comes amid growing demand for social workers in behavioral health, child welfare, education, and community services-sectors already facing severe workforce shortages.

NASW, alongside other organizations representing the Social Work Leadership Roundtable, are advocating to ensure social work retains its professional degree status and continued access to federal financial aid.

DO YOUR PART - Submit Comments to the Department of Education 

Through March 2, 2026, the Department of Education (DoE) is currently accepting comments on the rule change which would remove social work as a professional degree. We ask that all social workers submit their comments on this change through the Federal eRulemaking Portal before March 2, 2026. 

How do I submit a comment? 

1. Go to the proposed rule page here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2025-OPE-0944-0001

2. Click on the blue "Comment" button to submit or upload your comment. For the question, "What is your comment about?" select "Individual" or Student." 

What should I include in my comment? 

• Share personal or institutional experience (e.g., teaching, supervising students, practicing, or hiring social workers).

• Insist that social work be included in the definition of professional degrees.

• Explain how reduced loan access would affect:

  • MSW students and affordability

  • Workforce shortages in mental and behavioral health

  • Access to services in rural and underserved communities

For more guidance on what makes an effective public comment, click here. 

National NASW is also working on template comments which will be distributed later through their Action Center. Make sure you're signed up for their alerts here: Action Center

What else can I do?

• Sign our petition asserting that Social Work is a Profession. It is still open for signatures: https://tinyurl.com/3svrdrm4

• Share your comment across your social media networks! Encourage colleagues in your network to submit their comment, as well. If you post, please use the hashtag #SocialWorkIsAProfession

Want to learn more?

To learn more about this change, check out the CSWE press kit for #SocialWorkIsAProfession here: https://socialpresskit.com/social-work-is-a-profession

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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers. NASW works to enhance the growth and development of our members, to create and maintain professional standards for all social workers, and to advance sound social policies.