I was between the ages of 19-24 in 2023. I was not a college student, but I did get certificates for my job and went to trainings. Can I select "not a specified student"?

[Hal_Al]

Q. Can I select "not a specified student"?

A. No.  There is no such thing as "not a specified student"?  You either indicate you were a student or not.  Then in the educational expenses section, the TurboTax (TT) interview qualifies you (or your parents) for an education credit or not. 

"Certificates for my job and went to trainings" sounds like you were not a student.  To be eligible for the tuition credits, you must have attended an "eligible institution".  To qualify as a full time student, for the dependency test. you must meet  the school's definition of full time. 

What is it that you are trying to accomplish, on your (or your parent's) tax return?

[MistyDawn]

There is a question that asked the younger population about this it said: since you were under the age of 25 at the end of 2024 we need to find how you are eligible for EIC and it goes on to ask if you are a specified student and not a specified student if you are a homeless if you were part of the Foster system and there's one other thing and that's the only option would be to put not a specified student so please don't act like somebody's trying to do something faulty on a tax return just because I didn't know how to answer this it's stumped even myself and my daughter.

[KrisD15]

That is a very confusing question. 

For the Earned Income Credit, the person applying for the credit (your daughter)  need to be 24. 

The age requirement is based on whether the person is a "Specified Student" or "Not a Specified Student" if they were formerly in the Foster Care System.  In that case they could be eligible at age 19. 

A Specified Student is a student that attends at least half-time for at least part of at least five months. 

So if a student starts classes sometime in January, attends half-time (or more) until sometime in May, they are a specified student and therefore needs to be 24 or older to claim the Earned Income Credit. 

HERE is an IRS Online Assistant link that might be helpful