Federal Archives

New Federal Court Ruling Reinforces AAPA-PAEA Challenge Over Professional Degree Loan Limits

Recent federal court decisions reinforce the central argument in AAPA and PAEA’s legal challenge against the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) restrictive definition of "professional degree" for federal student loan purposes.

October 26, 2026

Court Victory Prompts Department of Education to Recognize PA Programs as Professional Degree Programs

Following the federal court's preliminary relief in AAPA and PAEA's legal challenge, the U.S. Department of Education has issued updated implementation guidance recognizing PA programs as professional degree programs for purposes of administering the new federal student loan limits while the Court's order remains in effect.

July 1, 2026

Block on ED’s Definition of “Professional Degree” Is the First, Not Final, Legal Victory

While AAPA and PAEA forge ahead in the next chapter of this legal fight, pre-PAs and others in the PA community may have questions about what “preliminary relief” means for students this fall and the status of our case. While we don’t have all the answers at this juncture, we want to provide you with as much insight as we can.

June 26, 2026

Federal Court Delivers Major Victory for PA Students, Patients, and the Future Healthcare Workforce

Today, a federal court blocked the Department of Education's rule affecting federal student loan limits for physician assistant students while the case proceeds, granting preliminary relief to AAPA and PAEA in their legal challenge.

June 25, 2026

Physician Associate Organizations Sue Department of Education to Protect PA Students’ Access to Federal Student Loans

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the PA Education Association (PAEA) today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the final Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rule as unlawful ahead of its July 1 implementation date.

June 3, 2026

AAPA Statement in Support of the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163)

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) expresses strong support for the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163) as the House Ways and Means Committee prepares to consider the legislation during its May 21, 2026 full Committee markup.

May 21, 2026

Legal Pressure to Overturn Student Loan Rule Mounts as AAPA and PAEA Prepare Challenge to Protect Future PA Workforce

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the PA Education Association (PAEA) released the following statement in response to a lawsuit announced today by 25 states and the District of Columbia challenging the Department of Education’s (ED) Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rule.

May 19, 2026

PAEA and AAPA to Challenge Final Rule Excluding PA Students from Professional Degree Status in Court

The PA Education Association (PAEA) and the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) strongly condemn the U.S. Department of Education’s final rule defining professional degree programs, which excludes PA students from classification as professional students. The groups plan to challenge the rule in federal court.

April 30, 2026

AAPA Files Formal Comments Opposing Proposed Federal Student Loan Rule

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) has filed formal public comments with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) opposing its proposal to exclude PA programs from higher federal “professional” student loan limits and urging the Department to align the final rule with the statute by classifying PAs under the professional loan tier.

February 26, 2026

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