Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015, in order to be eligible to receive a HOPE scholarship, a student must receive at least two credits in courses from the following categories, prior to graduating from high school:

1) Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course;

2) Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course;

3) Advanced Placement courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language);

4) International Baccalaureate courses in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies and foreign language);

5) Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects (English, math, science, social studies and foreign language) where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or

6) Advanced foreign language courses.

Students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2016, must receive at least three credits in courses from the above categories, prior to graduating from high school; students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2017, must receive at least four credits in courses from the above categories, prior to graduating from high school. Students may earn one or more credits in each category; provided, however, that an earned course credit may only be counted one time toward the credit requirement. If a course is assigned one-half credit, the student must take another half-credit course in the categories listed in order to satisfy one course credit requirement. Students should review the credits assigned to courses to determine satisfaction of the above requirements.