diff --git a/internal/domain/lms_access.go b/internal/domain/lms_access.go
index 35d2035..888d053 100644
--- a/internal/domain/lms_access.go
+++ b/internal/domain/lms_access.go
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 package domain
 
 // LMSEntityAccess describes learner gating for a program, course, module, or lesson.
-// It is omitted (nil) for non-learner roles in API responses.
+// Included for STUDENT and OPEN_LEARNER; omitted (nil) for staff roles in API responses.
+// OPEN_LEARNER always has is_accessible true; STUDENT may be false when prerequisites are unmet.
 // Progress fields count completed lessons vs total lessons in that entity’s scope (lesson: 0 or 1 of 1).
 type LMSEntityAccess struct {
 	IsAccessible     bool   `json:"is_accessible"`
diff --git a/internal/services/lmsprogress/service.go b/internal/services/lmsprogress/service.go
index 9db1ea6..c41f7bc 100644
--- a/internal/services/lmsprogress/service.go
+++ b/internal/services/lmsprogress/service.go
@@ -144,16 +144,13 @@ func (s *Service) CanAccessLesson(ctx context.Context, userID, lessonID int64) (
 	return true, "", nil
 }
 
-// ApplyAccessProgram sets p.Access for a learner. Non-learners: clears Access to omit from JSON.
+// ApplyAccessProgram sets p.Access for learner roles. Staff roles omit Access from JSON.
+// STUDENT: is_accessible reflects sequential prerequisites; OPEN_LEARNER: always true.
 func (s *Service) ApplyAccessProgram(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userID int64, p *domain.Program) error {
-	if !role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+	if !role.IsCustomerLearnerRole() {
 		p.Access = nil
 		return nil
 	}
-	ok, reason, err := s.CanAccessProgram(ctx, userID, p.ID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	done, err := s.store.LmsUserHasProgramProgress(ctx, userID, p.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -162,24 +159,23 @@ func (s *Service) ApplyAccessProgram(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, user
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c, t, pct := lmsProgressCounts(comp, tot, done)
-	p.Access = &domain.LMSEntityAccess{
-		IsAccessible: ok, IsCompleted: done, Reason: reasonIf(ok, reason),
-		CompletedCount: c, TotalCount: t, ProgressPercent: pct,
+	ok, reason := true, ""
+	if role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+		ok, reason, err = s.CanAccessProgram(ctx, userID, p.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+	p.Access = buildLMSEntityAccess(ok, reason, done, comp, tot)
 	return nil
 }
 
-// ApplyAccessCourse sets c.Access for a learner.
+// ApplyAccessCourse sets c.Access for learner roles.
 func (s *Service) ApplyAccessCourse(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userID int64, c *domain.Course) error {
-	if !role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+	if !role.IsCustomerLearnerRole() {
 		c.Access = nil
 		return nil
 	}
-	ok, reason, err := s.CanAccessCourse(ctx, userID, c.ID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	done, err := s.store.LmsUserHasCourseProgress(ctx, userID, c.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -188,24 +184,23 @@ func (s *Service) ApplyAccessCourse(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userI
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cc, tt, pct := lmsProgressCounts(comp, tot, done)
-	c.Access = &domain.LMSEntityAccess{
-		IsAccessible: ok, IsCompleted: done, Reason: reasonIf(ok, reason),
-		CompletedCount: cc, TotalCount: tt, ProgressPercent: pct,
+	ok, reason := true, ""
+	if role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+		ok, reason, err = s.CanAccessCourse(ctx, userID, c.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+	c.Access = buildLMSEntityAccess(ok, reason, done, comp, tot)
 	return nil
 }
 
-// ApplyAccessModule sets m.Access for a learner.
+// ApplyAccessModule sets m.Access for learner roles.
 func (s *Service) ApplyAccessModule(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userID int64, m *domain.Module) error {
-	if !role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+	if !role.IsCustomerLearnerRole() {
 		m.Access = nil
 		return nil
 	}
-	ok, reason, err := s.CanAccessModule(ctx, userID, m.ID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	done, err := s.store.LmsUserHasModuleProgress(ctx, userID, m.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -214,24 +209,23 @@ func (s *Service) ApplyAccessModule(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userI
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	cc, tt, pct := lmsProgressCounts(comp, tot, done)
-	m.Access = &domain.LMSEntityAccess{
-		IsAccessible: ok, IsCompleted: done, Reason: reasonIf(ok, reason),
-		CompletedCount: cc, TotalCount: tt, ProgressPercent: pct,
+	ok, reason := true, ""
+	if role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+		ok, reason, err = s.CanAccessModule(ctx, userID, m.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+	m.Access = buildLMSEntityAccess(ok, reason, done, comp, tot)
 	return nil
 }
 
-// ApplyAccessLesson sets l.Access for a learner.
+// ApplyAccessLesson sets l.Access for learner roles.
 func (s *Service) ApplyAccessLesson(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userID int64, les *domain.Lesson) error {
-	if !role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+	if !role.IsCustomerLearnerRole() {
 		les.Access = nil
 		return nil
 	}
-	ok, reason, err := s.CanAccessLesson(ctx, userID, les.ID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	done, err := s.store.LmsUserHasLessonProgress(ctx, userID, les.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -242,14 +236,29 @@ func (s *Service) ApplyAccessLesson(ctx context.Context, role domain.Role, userI
 	} else {
 		comp, tot = 0, 1
 	}
-	c, t, pct := lmsProgressCounts(comp, tot, done)
-	les.Access = &domain.LMSEntityAccess{
-		IsAccessible: ok, IsCompleted: done, Reason: reasonIf(ok, reason),
-		CompletedCount: c, TotalCount: t, ProgressPercent: pct,
+	ok, reason := true, ""
+	if role.UsesLMSSequentialGating() {
+		ok, reason, err = s.CanAccessLesson(ctx, userID, les.ID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
+	les.Access = buildLMSEntityAccess(ok, reason, done, comp, tot)
 	return nil
 }
 
+func buildLMSEntityAccess(ok bool, reason string, done bool, completed, total int32) *domain.LMSEntityAccess {
+	c, t, pct := lmsProgressCounts(completed, total, done)
+	return &domain.LMSEntityAccess{
+		IsAccessible:    ok,
+		IsCompleted:     done,
+		Reason:          reasonIf(ok, reason),
+		CompletedCount:  c,
+		TotalCount:      t,
+		ProgressPercent: pct,
+	}
+}
+
 // lmsProgressCounts maps DB lesson completion counts to UI fields. Percent is 0–100; completed
 // and total are aligned with isCompleted when the entity is fully done.
 func lmsProgressCounts(completed, total int32, isCompleted bool) (c, t, pct int) {