AAPA Statement on ED Decision to Place Restrictive Caps on PA Student Loans

AAPA Statement on ED Decision to Place Restrictive Caps on PA Student Loans

Alexandria, Va. (November 7, 2025) - Today, American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Education's negotiated rulemaking, where federal negotiators agreed to a definition of "professional program" that would exclude physician associates (PAs) from eligibility for higher federal student loan limits. This change is tied to implementation of the student loan provisions included in H.R. 1, which was signed into law in July.

"At a time when the need for healthcare services is rapidly expanding, restricting access to financial support for future healthcare providers is a step in the wrong direction. Without a sustainable pipeline of trained clinicians, patient access to care and health outcomes will continue to decline.

PAs are one of the fastest growing healthcare professions in the nation. The PA profession is consistently ranked among the top U.S. healthcare and overall jobs. Capping student loans at an unreasonably low rate would not only deter the next generation of PAs but would undermine efforts to address the nation's healthcare workforce shortages.

PA school is not only more expensive than the proposed cap, but it is also a highly competitive and demanding full-time curriculum with restrictions on students' abilities to work while enrolled. Without access to sufficient student loans, many students will not have the means to complete their education.

While this proposed change could impact students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, it would have an outsized and disproportionate impact on aspiring PAs who come from low-income backgrounds or historically underserved communities. If such a change is made permanent, students would be held back from pursuing their calling not because of a lack of academic preparation, talent, or commitment, but due to limits that have no basis in law.

This is not just a blow to future PAs, it is a dangerous setback for patients - for parents seeking care for a sick child, for seniors struggling with long wait times, and for patients navigating cancer diagnoses or chronic illness. Fewer PAs in the workforce means fewer providers available when they're needed most.

AAPA will pursue every available option to ensure PA programs are recognized as professional degrees and that future PAs can access the education they need to serve their communities. We call on the Department of Education to fix this proposal as it advances through the regulatory process."

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Media Contact: Jenni Roberson, 703.380.2764

About the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
AAPA is the national membership organization for all physician associates/assistants (PAs). PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. Learn more about the profession at aapa.org and engage through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.