diff --git a/internal/domain/subscriptions.go b/internal/domain/subscriptions.go
index 680a101..740aea1 100644
--- a/internal/domain/subscriptions.go
+++ b/internal/domain/subscriptions.go
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ const (
 	SubscriptionCategoryDuolingo     SubscriptionCategory = "DUOLINGO"
 )
 
+// CategorySubscriptionGateDisabled skips subscription enforcement on learner-facing routes (temporary).
+var CategorySubscriptionGateDisabled = true
+
 type DurationUnit string
 
 const (
diff --git a/internal/web_server/handlers/exam_prep_catalog_course_handler.go b/internal/web_server/handlers/exam_prep_catalog_course_handler.go
index 38a8147..93b9c54 100644
--- a/internal/web_server/handlers/exam_prep_catalog_course_handler.go
+++ b/internal/web_server/handlers/exam_prep_catalog_course_handler.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (h *Handler) ListExamPrepCatalogCourses(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 	offset, _ := strconv.Atoi(c.Query("offset", "0"))
 
 	role, _ := c.Locals("role").(domain.Role)
-	if role == domain.RoleStudent || role == domain.RoleOpenLearner {
+	if role.IsCustomerLearnerRole() && !domain.CategorySubscriptionGateDisabled {
 		userID, ok := c.Locals("user_id").(int64)
 		if !ok || userID == 0 {
 			return c.Status(fiber.StatusUnauthorized).JSON(domain.ErrorResponse{
diff --git a/internal/web_server/middleware.go b/internal/web_server/middleware.go
index dd29806..9d56813 100644
--- a/internal/web_server/middleware.go
+++ b/internal/web_server/middleware.go
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 )
 
-var categorySubscriptionGateDisabled = true
-
 func (a *App) authMiddleware(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
 	ip := c.IP()
 	userAgent := c.Get("User-Agent")
@@ -226,7 +224,7 @@ func (a *App) RequireSubscriptionCategory(category domain.SubscriptionCategory)
 		if role != domain.RoleStudent && role != domain.RoleOpenLearner {
 			return c.Next()
 		}
-		if categorySubscriptionGateDisabled {
+		if domain.CategorySubscriptionGateDisabled {
 			return c.Next()
 		}
 		active, err := a.subscriptionsSvc.HasActiveSubscriptionByCategory(c.Context(), userID, category)
@@ -259,7 +257,7 @@ func (a *App) RequireExamPrepSubscription() fiber.Handler {
 		if role != domain.RoleStudent && role != domain.RoleOpenLearner {
 			return c.Next()
 		}
-		if categorySubscriptionGateDisabled {
+		if domain.CategorySubscriptionGateDisabled {
 			return c.Next()
 		}