The Hope credit was for 2008 and earlier, so if you didn't go to school then, you didn't take that credit.
Tax Year 2009, the Hope Credit was replaced by the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
It is assumed that you would know if you took this credit and if so, how many times.
You need to be a student in the first four years (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) of a degree to claim this credit.
If you don't know if the credit has been taken, you would need to check your tax file for each tax year that you were a student.
If you were ever a student AND a dependent, you would also need to check the tax returns of the taxpayer that claimed you those years, such as your parents.
The credit can be used four times total per student.
Pub 970
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