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Florida Civic Literacy Competency Exam

Florida Civic Literacy Competency Requirement

In compliance with Florida Rule 6A-10.02413, Civic Literacy Competency, students are strongly encouraged to fulfill this graduation requirement before the end of their first year. Rule 6A-10.02413 was amended on November 23, 2021. 

The civic literacy competency requirement will vary depending on the college catalog year that a student applies to a Florida College System institution for their degree program. This is regardless of prior postsecondary coursework.

Students that entered an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree program at a Florida College System institution under the 2018-19 to 2020-21 college catalog years must pass one course OR one assessment from the table below to meet the civic literacy competency requirement prior to graduation.

Course Requirement:

  • AMH2020
  • POS1041
Assessment Requirement Passing Score
AP Government and Politics: United States 3
AP United States History 4
CLEP: American Government 50
Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) 60%

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 the course requirement. 

The Florida Civic Literary requirements for students that entered an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree program at a Florida College System institution under the 2021-22 or later college catalog year are:

Pass POS1041 or AMH2020

AND

Pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (Passing score is 60%)

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%)

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. 

The Florida Civic Literary requirements for students that enter an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science or baccalaureate degree program at a Florida College System institution in the 2022-23 or later college catalog year are:

Pass POS1041 or AMH2020

AND

Pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (Passing score is 60%)

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%)

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

FCLE testing is done by appointment. Click on the appropriate link below to schedule your in-person testing appointment. New appointment times and days are added regularly and vary. Be sure to make your testing appointment for the campus where you plan to test.  Unfortunately, at this time there are no remote testing options for the FCLE.  We are expecting that to change in the future.    

Massey Campus—Fort Pierce
3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce FL 34981
https://calendly.com/masseyassessment/florida-civic-literacy-exam-appointment

Chastain Campus—Stuart
2400 S.E. Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997
https://calendly.com/chastainassessment/flce

Dixon Hendry Campus—Okeechobee
2229 N.W. 9th Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972

Students can take the FCLE at the Dixon Hendry Campus on a walk-in basis without an appointment. Students can start the FCLE Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The FCLE takes can take two hours to complete, so plan accordingly.

Mueller Campus—Vero Beach
6155 College Lane
Vero Beach, FL 32966
https://calendly.com/muellerassessment/fcle?month=2023-10

Pruitt Campus—Port St. Lucie
500 N.W. California Blvd.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
https://calendly.com/pruittassessment/fcle

Yes. The time limit is two hours to complete the exam.

A passing score of 60% is required to fulfill the competency.  However, this passing score may be changed by the Florida Department of Education in the future.

There is no fee charged for IRSC students to take this exam.

While there is no limit on the number if retest attempts, students must wait 2 business days to retest. For example, if a student takes the exam on Monday, the soonest they would be allowed to retest is Wednesday of the same week. Students are strongly encouraged to study before retesting.

There is no expiration date for the test scores.

FCLE competencies cover the knowledge necessary to demonstrate the postsecondary requirement for civic literacy, as outlined in statute:

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

Yes, civic literacy resources can be found here: http://www.fldoe.org/civicliteracy/ and https://irsc.libguides.com/FCLE

Yes. Completion of AMH2020 or POS1041 only fulfills the course requirement for postsecondary civic literacy competency for students entering the FCS under the 2021-22 catalog year and thereafter.

No. Students who pass the FCLE in high school will still be required to pass an approved course if they enter the Florida College System under the 2021-22 catalog year and thereafter.

The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs during the 2021-22 catalog year. This includes dual enrolled students.

The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-22 catalog year, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes transfer students and students entering with prior postsecondary coursework. Students who have previously achieved a passing score on an approved assessment or passed an approved course will have met the assessment requirement or coursework requirement, respectively, and will not need to re-take assessments or courses.

The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-22 catalog year, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes students from out-of-state.

Baccalaureate students under the 2021-22 catalog year and later are required to meet the civics course and assessment requirement. If the student previously demonstrated civic literacy competency based on the previous civic literacy requirement through a course or an assessment under their associate degree program, those passed courses or passing scores could also be used toward demonstration of civic literacy competency for baccalaureate completion. The student would then just need to fulfill the other requirement via an assessment or course.

  • Credit received for courses in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (AMH2020 and POS1041) via credit by exam will count toward the course requirement. If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (e.g., AP Government and Politics: United States, AP United States History and CLEP: American Government), the student would be considered as having met both the course and the assessment civic literacy competency.
  • 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. These students would need to be assessed using an approved assessment in rule.
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