Which of the following is a requirement for John to claim the earned income credit without qualifying children in 2022?

To claim the earned income credit (EIC) without qualifying children in 2022, one of the specific requirements is that the individual must meet certain age criteria. In this case, individuals need to be at least 25 years old but under 65 years old at the end of the tax year in order to claim the EIC without children. This age requirement is designed to ensure that the credit is granted to individuals who are generally established in their working lives.

While there are several other criteria to be aware of, such as having earned income and not being a dependent of another taxpayer, those do not fit the response provided. It's important to note that being a full-time student does not meet the requirements for claiming the EIC in this context; in fact, full-time students under 24 generally do not qualify for the credit. Thus, age is a crucial factor, making the specific criterion of being at least 25 years old essential for John to be able to claim the earned income credit without qualifying children.