91¶ÌÊÓƵ

Florida Civic Literacy Competency Requirement

91¶ÌÊÓƵ requires all incoming students from the 2018-2019 academic year and beyond, to meet the Civic Literacy requirement. All first-time-in-college (FTIC) students entering all Florida College System (FCS) and State University System (SUS) institutions must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by the time they graduate per Florida Statute and Florida Board of Governors Regulation 8.006. There are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying Civic Literacy requirements. As demonstrated below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution. If you are unsure which cohort you fall into, schedule an appointment with your assigned academic advisor.

Cohort 1: Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution between the 2018-19 to 2020-21 school year must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing either a course or an exam.

Cohort 2: Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing a course and an exam.

Cohort 3: Prior to the award of an associate in science or associate in applied science degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2022-23 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by successfully completing a course and an exam.

Approved Courses for Civic Literacy (Passing Grade Required)

• POS1041 – Passing grade required
• AMH2020 – Passing grade required
• AMH2010 taken during the Fall 2024 semester or after – Passing grade required (this class will not meet the requirement if taken before Fall 2024)

Approved Exams for Civic Literacy (Passing Grade Required)

Florida Civic Literacy Exam (Passing score of 60% or higher is required

OR

Must pass one the following exams which give credit for both the course and exam:

• AP Government and Politics: United States (Passing score is 3)
• AP United States History (Passing score is 4)
• CLEP: American Government (Passing score is 50%)
• CLEP: History of the United States I (Passing score is 50%)

Note:

If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is not in rule (e.g., AICE and IB), the student would be considered as having met only the course requirement. 

Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) Summary

The FCLE is used to assess a student’s civic literacy competency. It consists of 80 multiple choice questions which include 20 questions in each of the following four areas:

• American Democracy: An understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
• United States Constitution: An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application.
• Founding Documents: Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government.
• Landmark Supreme Court Cases, Legislation, and Executive Actions: An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

*A passing score of 60% is required.

Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) Frequently Asked Questions