Does spending 4 years getting an associates degree count as obtaining 4 years of college credit?

It counts as being in the first four years of a degree, which is a requirement for the American Opportunity Tax Credit. 

Other requirements, which is unclear if you met from your question, is that for the year of the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the student was enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period, the student has no drug felony convictions and has not claimed the credit four times prior, including any times the credit was claimed by someone else, such as parents that claimed the student in the past.

 

There is also the Lifetime Learning credit which has fewer requirements. 

 

The expenses do not need to be separated by degree, all education expenses paid in the year are eligible to be counted as long as they were payments for expenses that year and the first three months of the following year (payments count if you paid in 2024 for class that started in January, February or March of 2025).

 

 

PUB 970

Q. I spent 4-5 years getting an associates degree and a transfer certificate at my last institution as a mix of a full-time and part-time student. Does this count as 4 years of college credits in relation to education tax credits?

A. Probably not. The simplified version of the rule is: if you have not received a bachelors degree, you have not completed 4 years of post secondary education and are still eligible for the American Opportunity Credit (AOC). 

If the school you are transferring credits to will grant you a bachelors degree based on those transfer credits, then, yes, you have completed 4 years of post secondary education.

 

But the question may be academic.  If you (and/or your parents) have already claimed the AOC 4 times in those " 4-5 years", then you are no longer eligible. There is a 4 time limit for claiming the AOC.  There is no limit on the lesser credit, The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC).