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.

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 Guidance Document and SUS BOG Regulation 8.006. 

Table 1. Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students 

Attention:  The cohort details "Students first entering the SUS or FCS" refers to entering the University of West Florida (UWF). 

Additionally, for Cohorts 3 and 4, approved accelerated mechanisms may meet the course and/or assessment requirement, and students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Examination
(FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary assessment requirement. 

Beginning with fall term 2024 and thereafter, any undergraduate degree-seeking student, regardless of their cohort, can use any of the approved options for Cohort 4 to satisfy civic literacy competency before graduation.

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.

Instructions for the Civic Literacy Exam

• You will have the opportunity to take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in person at the UWF Pensacola campus OR remotely via another Florida university or college. There is no testing fee to take the exam in person at UWF. There is a testing fee to take the exam remotely based on the testing policies at the other institution. 
• In-person exams will be offered on specific scheduled dates each semester and are capacity-limited. Students needing to schedule this exam to satisfy graduation requirements should register ASAP to ensure an available seat. If all registration dates are full and you have applied to graduate this semester, please contact us at testing@uwf.edu for further assistance.
• Prior to taking this exam, please speak with your academic advisor to ensure the test is necessary to satisfy your Florida Civic Literacy graduation requirement.
• On the day of the exam, you will need to bring your Nautilus Card or a government-issued ID for identification verification. Please note that if using a government-issued ID, your name and date of birth must match what is on your UWF academic record to confirm your student identification number (SID). Your Nautilus Card is preferred for a faster check-in process.

View Exam Dates and Deadlines

Registration Steps

1. You must register for this exam using the FCLE Registration Form to select from the available exam options. 

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

2. Like any exam, you should prepare for the FCLE to improve your chances of meeting the requirement on your first attempt.  

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)
• UWF Library Guide - Civic Literacy

Additional Civic Literacy resources are available on this page: https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/fcle.stml