Background
In 2017, the Florida Legislature amended section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, and introduced a new civic literacy requirement for all students graduating from a Florida public postsecondary institution. Beginning in the fall of 2018, students entering a Florida public postsecondary institution for the first time needed to demonstrate civic literacy by either taking a specific course or passing an assessment. The 2021 Legislature amended section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, and required students to complete both a course and an assessment from the approved list in Regulation 8.006. During 2024, the Board of Governors revised Regulation 8.006 to better align with the corresponding State Board of Education rule and recognize two new courses meeting the Civic Literacy requirement, AMH 2010 and AMS 2010. As a result of these changes, four cohorts of students are currently matriculating through Florida public postsecondary institutions subject to varying civic literacy competency requirements. Table 1 outlines the civic literacy requirements based on the specified date of the academic term in which a student initially entered a State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS) institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Requirement |
|---|---|
| Cohort 1 Students initially entering the SUS or FCS before fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2 Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2018 through Academic Year 2020* | Course OR Assessment |
| Cohort 3 Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in Academic Year 2021 through Academic Year 2023* | Course AND Assessment |
| Cohort 4 Students initially entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2024 and thereafter | Course AND Assessment |
*It is the university’s discretion to determine the academic year.
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.
Meeting the Civic Literacy Requirement
All undergraduate degree-seeking students who enroll in a Florida public institution in fall 2018 and thereafter must demonstrate civic literacy competency. Table 2 details which options meet the course and assessment requirements for each cohort of students. Some options only satisfy the course or assessment requirement, while others may satisfy both.
Credit received for courses in Board of Governors Regulation 8.006 (AMHX010, AMHX020, and POSX041) via credit-by-exam will count toward the course requirement.
- If the exam used as the basis of awarding credit is in Regulation 8.006 (e.g., AP and CLEP), the student would be considered as having met both the civic literacy competency course and the assessment requirement.
- If the exam used as the basis of awarding credit is not in regulation (e.g., AICE and IB), the student would be considered as having met only the course requirement. These students would need to be assessed using an assessment approved in the regulation.
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.
| Options | Score | Cohort 2 | Cohort 3 | Cohort 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses & Accelerated Mechanisms | ||||
| POS X041 (including dual enrollment) | Passing grade | Course | Course | Course |
| AMH X010 (including dual enrollment)* | Passing grade | Course* | Course* | Course* |
| AMH X020 (including dual enrollment) | Passing grade | Course | Course | Course |
| AMH X010 (including dual enrollment)** | Passing grade | Course** | Course** | Course** |
| Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States | 3 | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment |
| Advanced Placement United States History | 4 | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment |
| Cambridge AICE History, U.S. History, c.1840-1990 (A-Level) | A-E | Course | Course | Course |
| I.B. History: History of the Americas | 5-7 | Course | Course | Course |
| Assessments | ||||
| CLEP American Government | 50 | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment |
| CLEP History of the United States I | 50 | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment | Course & Assessment |
| CLEP History of the United States II | 50 | Course | Course | Course |
| U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Test-Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions | 60 | Assessment | Assessment | None |
| Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) | 60 | Assessment | Assessment | Assessment |
*If completed fall 2024 or after
**If completed spring 2025 or after
Click here to learn more about the state of Florida's Civic Literacy Competency Graduation Requirements.
Register for an FCLE - Remote test
Appointments are required for testing. Click the registration button below to register and pay for your Florida Civic Literary Exam.
Additional Information
- The FCLE has 80 multiple-choice questions. The test is divided into four sections each containing 20 questions (American Democracy, United States Constitution, Founding Documents, and Landmark Impact on Law and Society).
- The passing score is 48 out of 80 (60%).
- There is no time limit; however, the FCLE takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
- Scratch paper is only permitted if it's documented as a testing accommodation.
Where to View Your FCLE Test Status
You can check to see if your Civic Literacy Test Component has been satisfied by logging into your My FIU account. Please keep in mind that it may take up to 5 business days for your test status to appear.
Retaking the remote FCLE
A retake requires a 24-hour waiting period between exams (based on appointment availability).