To be an eligible student for the American Opportunity Credit (AOTC), the student must: be enrolled in a degree or certificate program at an eligible educational institution, carry at least half the normal full-time workload for their course of study, and not have reached the age of 24 as of the beginning of the academic period for which the credit is claimed. Additionally, the student cannot have claimed the AOTC or the Hope Scholarship Credit for more than 4 tax years.