Overview

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require undergraduate degree-seeking students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. 

The 2021 and 2024 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in Table 1, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Beginning with the 2021-22 Academic Year, students who earned a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination while in high school are exempt from the postsecondary civic literacy assessment requirement.

Any transfer student who enters a State University System institution and has not met the civic literacy competency requirement must meet the requirement based on the date the student initially transfers to the State University System institution.  A student who has previously completed the civic literacy competency requirement at a Florida College System institution or State University System institution is considered to have met the civic literacy competency requirement. 

Additional information can be found at uwf.edu/civicliteracy and on the Civic Literacy Implementation and Guidance Document and SUS BOG Regulation 8.006. 

Table 1. Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. You should work with your academic advisor to determine which option is best for your degree requirements/degree plan.

Cohort 2 Students Must Complete a Course OR Exam

(a) To satisfy Course Competency: Successfully pass either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877 (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below). AMHX010 satisfies the course requirement if completed after the start of fall 2024. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

1. Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
2. An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
3. Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below):

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - 60%
2. Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE) - 60%

Cohort 3 Students Must Complete BOTH a Course AND an Exam

(a) To satisfy Course Competency: Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877 (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below). AMHX010 satisfies the course requirement if completed after the start of fall 2024. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

1. Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
2. An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
3. Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below):

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test – Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions - 60%
2. Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE) - 60%

Cohort 4 Students Must Complete BOTH a Course AND an Exam

(a) Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government, AMHX010, Introductory Survey to 1877, or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877 (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below). AMHX010 satisfies the course requirement if completed after the start of fall 2024.  Each of the courses must include the following competencies.

1. Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
2. An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application. 
3. Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government.
4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments (or accelerated mechanism listed on the chart below):

1. Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FLCE) - 60%

Instructions for the Civic Literacy Exam

This exam will be offered on specific scheduled dates each semester and are capacity limited. The exam will be offered in person on the Pensacola and Emerald Coast campuses. Students needing to schedule this exam to satisfy graduation requirements in the current semester should register ASAP to ensure an available seat. If all registration dates are full and you are scheduled to graduate this semester, please contact your academic advisor for further assistance. For students who live more than 50 miles away from a UWF campus AND are in an online program, a virtual/online option will be available on a limited basis to those within one year of graduating. The FCLE registration form will assist students with navigating available registration options.  

Registration Steps

1. You must register for this exam using the FCLE Registration Form to select your first choice and alternate choice from the available exam dates offered. There is no fee for this exam. 

• Note Regarding Exam Accommodations: If you are registered with Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) and have approved testing accommodations (extended time, reduced distraction, etc.), complete the FCLE Registration Form.  Please note a copy of your current semester's approved Accommodation Letter must be submitted to testing@uwf.edu, to be provided with a test date.

2. Use the provided materials to prepare for the exam - the test confirmation email will include how to access test preparation materials. 

The purpose of these sample test materials is to orient students to the nature of the test content and test questions on the FCLE. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test. Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test.

• Supplemental Guide for the FCLE (PDF)
• FCLE Sample Items (PDF)

Additional Civic Literacy resources are available on this page: https://www.fldoe.org/civicliteracy/.