Do extended education classes count towards acquiring or improving your job skills if taken to fulfill prerequisite requirements for a masters program and new future job?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 4, 2019
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My wife is taking classes (not even halftime) to fulfill perquisites to apply for a master program. Do extended education classes count towards "acquiring or improving your job skills" to make you eligible for the "lifetime learning credit" if taken to fulfill prerequisite requirements for a masters program that will lead to a new job in the future?

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C

Coleen3

Employee

No. Job skills are present skills required in your present job. However, that is only half of that qualification. She is eligible.

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

P

Pluto33Author

Employee

So the 8 course prerequisite program she is in is not part of the degree program. But you are saying that since they are higher education courses it still counts? On the IRS website under Qualified Learning Expenses for the Lifetime Learning Credit it only says: "The course must be either part of a postsecondary degree program or taken by the student to acquire or improve job skills." Sorry I'm a little confused still.