If i made just over 80,000 dollars in 2016 can i write off my schooling for upgrading my us merchant mariners licesnse. My work doesn't require me to have upgraded

[alaskanmm]

The Uscg aproved class cost 775 just for the class for four days. My work didn't require me to upgrade I did it on my own. It's not letting me write off any weather gear or any schooling. Why? I have acquired my license on my own and payed for it on my own before I even had a job and than I've upgraded last year. So I'm kinda unemployed for when I got my original license. And than I upgraded on my own when I was employed. But wasn't mandatory for my work.

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

You can deduct training and education to maintain or improve your credentials for your current job/career but not the costs to qualify for a new job/career.

Also, these are miscellaneous deductions subject to the 2% rule, and you must itemize deductions. So even if you list them, you may not get a benefit.