Can I take the American Opportunity Credit?

[jpthoms2]

I have in my history, Completed an LPN certificate program, an Associates Degree in Nursing and am now enrolled in an RN-MSN program. I finished the last of the foundational courses (BSN courses) in 2017 How do I determine if I have completed four years of postsecondary education? There is no bachelors degree in this program. I started this program in 2016.

The statement is below:

1. As of the beginning of 2017, the student had not completed the first 4 years of postsecondary education (generally, the freshman through senior years of college), as determined by the eligible educational institution. For this purpose, don't include academic credit awarded solely because of the student's performance on proficiency examinations.

[KiaraE]

When did you begin your first program?

[jpthoms2]

The LPN program? I started that program in 1999.  The ADN program finished June 2007. Or the program I am currently attending? I started that in July of 2015

[KiaraE]

Have you ever taken the American Opportunity Credit at all?

[jpthoms2]

yes. I believe this would be my third or fourth time,

[jpthoms2]

How do we reconcile this from the Q&A from <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/american-opportunity-tax-credit-questions-and-answers">https://www.irs....>

Q13. If a student was an undergraduate during the first part of the taxable year and became a graduate student that same year, will the student qualify for the American opportunity tax credit?

A. If a student has not completed the first four years of post-secondary education as of the beginning of the taxable year, and has not claimed the Hope scholarship credit and/or the American opportunity tax credit for more than four taxable years, the student can claim the American opportunity tax credit for qualified expenses paid during the entire taxable year.

[KiaraE]

Your first of four years would begin the first time that you claimed the credit.

[jpthoms2]

Thank you

[KiaraE · Accepted solution]

Based upon the IRS website:

For the American opportunity tax credit, an eligible student is a student who: (1) is enrolled in a program leading toward a degree, certificate or other recognized post-secondary educational credential; (2) has not completed the first four years of post-secondary education as of the beginning of the taxable year; (3) for at least one academic period is carrying at least ½ of the normal full-time work load for the course of study the student is pursuing; and (4) has not been convicted of a felony drug offense. 

From: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/american-opportunity-tax-credit-questions-and-answers

The American Opportunity Credit is for the first certification or degree that you are pursuing. In this case, it appears that you are no longer eligible for this credit, based upon when you first began the program.