On October 31, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) issued a final rule expanding the list of healthcare providers who may certify a total and permanent disability (TPD) to receive a student loan discharge to include nurse practitioners. In the final rule, the DOE stated that authorizing NPs (and PAs) to certify a TPD discharge would provide an “enormous benefit” to borrowers who receive their care from those clinicians.