Yes if you’re a first-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student enrolling in a Florida public college or university starting Fall 2022 or later, you must satisfy the Florida civic literacy requirement to graduate. This isn’t optional; it’s mandated by Florida Statute §1007.25 and applies across all 12 state universities and 28 Florida College System institutions.
You can meet the requirement in two primary ways:
- Pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) a 60-question, multiple-choice test covering U.S. government structure, founding documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, and civic participation.
- Complete an approved course, such as POS 2041 (American National Government) or AMH 2020 (U.S. History Since 1877), with a grade of “C” or better.
Certain students may be exempt if they earned qualifying scores before high school graduation on:
- AP U.S. Government & Politics (score of 4 or 5)
- AP U.S. History (score of 4 or 5)
- IB Government & Politics (score of 5, 6, or 7)
- CLEP American Government (score of 50 or higher)
Important: Even if you’ve taken U.S. history or government in high school, that alone does not fulfill the requirement unless it was through one of the above credit-earning exams. Additionally, the FCLE must be passed before earning 45 credit hours to avoid registration holds at many institutions.
If you’re transferring from a private college, out-of-state school, or are a returning adult learner, check with your campus registrar or academic advisor your prior credits may count, but only if they align with Florida’s approved equivalencies.
Bottom line: Don’t wait. Confirm your FCLE status early through your student portal or advising office to stay on track for graduation in Florida’s public higher education system.