The U.S. Department of Education is currently considering a new definition for what counts as a “professional degree.” This definition will shape how the federal government classifies and supports entire fields of study.

Under the proposed definition, Social Work may not be recognized as a professional degree. This is not a technicality. It would diminish the advanced education, clinical training, and thousands of hours of supervised experience required by social workers and by many other helping professionals whose work is grounded in rigorous preparation and real-world practice. Social work is, by every measure, a profession.

Excluding it from this definition undermines decades of progress and devalues a workforce that communities depend on every single day. When Social Work is left off a federal list defining what “counts” as professional, these skilled frontline workers risk being overlooked, undervalued, and left without access to programs or supports reserved for professions the DOE recognizes.

Our Clear and Direct Ask to the U.S. Department of Education:

Alabama Social Workers call on the U.S. Department of Education to explicitly include Social Work — along with other frontline helping professions that require advanced education, clinical training, and supervised practice — in its final definition of a “professional degree.”

This recognition is essential to ensuring equitable access to federal programs, reinforcing the legitimacy of the profession, and protecting the integrity of the services social workers provide nationwide.

This decision has serious implications for social workers, social work students, and the countless individuals and families they serve. Alabama’s social workers — in schools, hospitals, child welfare agencies, mental health programs, and community organizations — are among those who stand to be most affected. 

Some have claimed that this change will not affect current students or working professionals. That is simply not true. Federal definitions shape national perceptions of value, legitimacy, and expertise. When the Department of Education excludes frontline professions like Social Work (despite the demanding education and training required) it sends the message that this work is somehow less professional. That message has consequences: it affects how social workers are treated in federal policy, how they are positioned on interdisciplinary teams, and how leadership opportunities, hiring priorities, and advancement pathways are determined. These ripple effects influence program eligibility, funding access, and the status of the profession for current practitioners and future generations alike.

If the DOE does not recognize Social Work as a professional degree, the repercussions will be long-lasting. Workforce shortages could worsen. Tuition and training programs will become harder to access. Career mobility will be restricted. Essential services, especially in high-need areas like child protection, behavioral health, and crisis intervention, could be undermined. Inclusion of helping professions in the DOE’s definition of what a “professional degree” is, is not symbolic; it is necessary to ensure that social workers and other helping professionals receive equitable support and recognition.

Social workers in Alabama and across the country must stand up now to ensure the DOE’s definition reflects the truth: Social Work is, and has always been, a professional degree. Your signature is more than a show of support, it is a concrete action that will help protect the future of the profession, safeguard the services communities rely on, and ensure frontline helping professionals are recognized for the essential work they do.

The DOE is finalizing its definition now, and time is running out. Social workers cannot remain silent. We have a narrow window to demonstrate that the profession is united, organized, and demanding to be heard. This petition will serve as a powerful statement delivered directly to the U.S. Department of Education and shared with members of Congress to show the strength and scale of support behind this issue.

Sign this petition. Share it widely. Then send a letter. Together, we can ensure the Department of Education hears us — and acts.

After signing, we urge every supporter to take one more step:
 ➡️ Send a letter directly to your U.S. Senators and Representative

Personalized messages from constituents have enormous influence. We are ethically called on to engage in social and political action, especially in moments like this. You matter. Your profession matters. Social Work matters.