This question wants to know if you ever received the American Opportunity Credit on your taxes before for the student in question. For the AOC/Hope Credit you can only file the credit for no more than four years because you can only use this credit for the first four years of college when working towards a degree.
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Tax-Deductions-and-Credits/What-is-the-American-Oppor...
https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3301953
