What does it mean to acquire or improve job skills for Lifetime Learning credit?

[Peace21]

Are these scenarios considered a qualification for the Lifetime Learning Credit to improve or acquire job skills? First Scenario: If a person is going to a junior college to take courses for professional development and to transfer the classes to a university for an advanced degree in order to get a job?

Second Scenario: What if the class a person took is not a course in the field a person wants to pursue, but the class is helpful in building skills that would help the person in a job. For instance, the person is taking a Communications Course that is helpful in a job, but the job is in an entirely different field like Technology. 
I'm trying to understand what it means to acquire or improve job skills under the lifetime learning credit qualification.  Thanks. 

[Bsch4477]

In either scenario if the student is enrolled in an eligible education institution for a degree they can claim the American Opportunity Credit which is more advantageous than the Lifetime Learning Credit as long as the student is not claimed as a dependent. 

But to your question, either scenario would apply to the Lifetime Learning Credit. 

[DaveF1006]

Yes, the lifetime learning credit would satisfy both scenarios but even better, the student/job aspirant may be eligible for the American Opportunity Credit (AOC), which is a much more attractive credit. These are the requirements for the credit.

To be eligible for AOTC, the student must:

• Be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential
• Be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year
• Not have finished the first four years of higher education at the beginning of the tax year
• Not have claimed the AOTC or the former Hope credit for more than four tax years
• Not have a felony drug conviction at the end of the tax year

As far as the acquisition of job skills, I would think that most students are going to college with the expectation that attractive job offers come their way. If the person in your first scenario meet the requirements above, he/she will be eligible for the AOC. At least he/she will meet the lifetime Learning Credits, which I am about to discuss.

As far as the second student/job aspirant, he/she is eligible for the lifetime learning credit. According to the IRS, To be eligible for LLC, the student must:

• Be enrolled or taking courses at an eligible educational institution.
• Be taking higher education course or courses to get a degree or other recognized education credential or to get or improve job skills.
• Be enrolled for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year.To be eligible for LLC, the student must:
• Be enrolled or taking courses at an eligible educational institution.
• Be taking higher education course or courses to get a degree or other recognized education credential or to get or improve job skills.
• Be enrolled for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year.

@Peace21

[Peace21]

Ok, another question. If a person is taking a Literature course at a junior college because they were interested in learning about Literature, although the person is not taking Literature for professional development, but a Literature course would help the person develop professional skills,  such as written communication skills and research skills that are needed on a job and after completing the Literature course the person plan on transferring to a university to receive an advanced degree in a different field such Art in order to get a job in Art.  Does the person qualify for the Lifetime Learning credit in this scenario? 

[ColeenD3]

Yes. 

Who is an eligible student for LLC?

To be eligible for LLC, the student must:

• Be enrolled or taking courses at an eligible educational institution.
• Be taking higher education course or courses to get a degree or other recognized education credential or to get or improve job skills.
• Be enrolled for at least one academic period* beginning in the tax year.

Academic Period can be semesters, trimesters, quarters, or any other period of study such as a summer school session. Academic periods are determined by the school. For schools that use clock or credit hours and do not have academic terms, the payment period may be treated as an academic period.

[Peace21]

Thanks.

[Peace21]

Thank you.

[Peace21]

Thanks. Appreciate.