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This bill would change the rules for some job training programs so they can still qualify for federal student aid. It applies to programs that prepare students for a licensed or recognized profession and use “clock hours” instead of credits. If a program gives more hours than the state minimum, it would still count as eligible for aid as long as it does not go above 150% of the required state minimum, or 150% of any federal minimum, whichever is higher. The bill is meant to make the rules clearer for these programs and help protect students by keeping aid eligibility tied to reasonable training limits.
- It changes the Higher Education Act rules for certain clock-hour training programs that lead to gainful employment in a recognized profession.
- Programs can still qualify for federal aid even if they exceed the state’s minimum hour requirement, as long as they stay within the 150% limit.
- If a federal agency has its own minimum hour requirement for that training, the program may use the higher of the state or federal 150% limit.
- The change would take effect when the bill becomes law and would apply to the 2024–2025 award year and later years.
Official Summaries
Clock Hour Program Student Protection Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the 150% rule, which allows an educational program that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation to maintain eligibility for federal student aid funding if the program operates within 150% of the state's minimum hours requirement for licensure.
The Department of Education (ED) previously enforced the 150% rule through regulations. ED proposed a new regulation to rescind the 150% rule and instead limit the length of these programs to 100% of the state's minimum required hours. This revised regulation was set to take effect on July 1, 2024; however, a court imposed a temporary injunction to halt the regulation from taking effect.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1176 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1176
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the clock hour
requirements for certain eligible programs under title IV of such Act.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 10, 2025
Mr. Smucker (for himself, Mr. Owens, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Thompson of
Pennsylvania, and Mr. Van Orden) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the clock hour
requirements for certain eligible programs under title IV of such Act.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Clock Hour Program Student
Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. CLOCK HOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF TRAINING.
(a) In General.--Section 481(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1088(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) An otherwise eligible program that provides a program of
training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized
profession in a State, and for which the number of clock hours of
instruction exceeds the minimum number of clock hours of instruction
required by such State for training in the recognized profession for
which the otherwise eligible program prepares students, shall be
determined to be an eligible program under this subsection if the
number of clock hours of instruction provided by such otherwise
eligible program does not exceed the greater of--
``(A) 150 percent of the minimum number of clock hours
required by such State for training in the recognized
profession for which the otherwise eligible program prepares
students; or
``(B) 150 percent of the minimum number of clock hours
required by a Federal agency for such training.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall take
effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and shall apply with
respect to award year 2024-2025, and each succeeding award year.
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