For	these	students,	the	COA	may	include	(at	the	option	of	the	school)	a	food	and	housing	allowance	for	up	to	three
semesters	or	the	equivalent,	with	no	more	than	two	semesters	or	the	equivalent	being	consecutive	at	any	one	school.	If	a
school	chooses	to	include	a	food	and	housing	allowance	in	the	COA	for	less-than-half-time	students,	the	allowance	is
based	on	the	student9s	living	situation,	as	described	above	for	students	who	are	enrolled	at	least	half-time.
Dependent	Care	Costs
For	students	with	dependents,	this	allowance	covers	actual	costs	expected	to	be	incurred	for	dependent	care	during
periods	that	include	but	are	not	limited	to	class	time,	study	time,	field	work,	internships,	and	commuting	time	for	the
student.	The	amount	of	the	allowance	should	be	based	on	the	number	and	age	of	the	student9s	dependents	and	should
not	exceed	reasonable	cost	in	the	community	for	the	type	of	care	provided.	Because	students	are	often	unaware	of	this
allowance,	schools	should	explain	the	availability	of	the	dependent	care	allowance	when	counseling	students	and	tell
them	how	to	request	that	an	allowance	for	dependent	care	be	included	in	their	COA.
See	<Documentation	of	Exceptional	Expenses=	later	in	the	chapter	for	guidance	on	documenting	dependent	care	costs.
Costs	of	Obtaining	a	License,	Certification,	or	First	Professional	Credential
For	students	enrolled	in	programs	that	require	professional	licensure,	certification,	or	a	first	professional	credential	in
order	to	practice	or	participate	in	the	occupation	the	program	is	preparing	the	student	to	enter,	the	COA	must	include	an
allowance	for	the	costs	of	obtaining	the	license,	certification,	or	credential.	Examples	of	allowable	costs	include	fees
charged	to	take	a	licensing	exam,	costs	associated	with	applying	for	and	obtaining	the	license	or	certification,	and	bar
exam	fees	for	law	students	pursuing	a	Juris	Doctor	(JD)	degree.	Under	this	provision,	the	costs	must	be	incurred	during
(not	after)	a	period	of	enrollment,	even	if	the	exam	is	after	the	end	of	the	period.
Schools	may	use	either	actual	or	average	costs	when	determining	the	amount	of	this	allowance.	If	a	school	chooses	to	use
average	costs,	it	must	develop	a	reasonable	basis	for	the	average	amount	using	the	actual	costs	of	a	first	professional
credential	that	the	school	is	aware	of	for	the	profession	that	a	program	prepares	a	student	to	enter.
The	allowance	may	include	costs	for	multiple	license	or	credential	test	attempts,	though	schools	have	discretion	to	set	a
reasonable	limit	on	the	number	of	attempts	allowed	to	be	included	in	a	student9s	COA.
Costs	for	Study	Abroad	Programs
For	a	student	enrolled	in	a	study	abroad	program	approved	for	credit	by	the	student9s	home	school,	the	COA	includes
reasonable	costs	associated	with	such	study	as	determined	by	the	home	school.	For	example,	the	COA	for	a	student	who
is	a	U.S.	citizen	studying	at	a	foreign	school	may	include	visa/passport	costs.
Disability-Related	Expenses
For	a	student	with	a	disability,	the	COA	includes	an	allowance	for	expenses	related	to	the	student9s	disability.	Such
expenses	include	special	services,	personal	assistance,	transportation,	equipment,	and	supplies	that	are	reasonably
incurred	and	not	provided	by	other	agencies.
A	student	is	considered	to	have	a	disability	if	they	have	a	physical	or	mental	impairment	that	substantially	limits	a	major
life	activity,	such	as	if	the	student	is	deaf,	has	a	mental	disability,	is	hard	of	hearing,	has	a	speech	or	language
impairment,	is	visually	disabled,	is	seriously	emotionally	disturbed,	orthopedically	impaired,	autistic,	has	a	traumatic	brain
injury,	is	otherwise	health-impaired,	or	has	specific	learning	disabilities	that	require	special	education	and	related
services.
See	<Documentation	of	Exceptional	Expenses=	later	in	the	chapter	for	guidance	on	documenting	disability-related
expenses.
Cooperative	Education	Program	Employment	Costs
For	students	engaged	in	a	work	experience	through	a	cooperative	education	program,	the	COA	includes	an	allowance	for
reasonable	costs	associated	with	such	employment,	as	determined	by	the	school.
Fees	for	Federal	Student	Loans
For	students	receiving	Direct	Loans	or	loans	under	any	other	federal	student	loan	program,	the	COA	includes	fees	required