Turbotax provides three categories:
1. Books and materials required to be purchased from the school
2. Books and materials not required to be purchased from the school
3. Other books and course-related materials
The answer from TurboTaxViktoriya explains how categories 1 and 2 differ. Lifetime Learning Credit allows only category 1. American Opportunity Credit allows categories 1 and 2.
The original question asks how categories 2 and 3 differ. I hope to find out.
