Civic Literacy Proficiency Requirement

Civic Literacy Graduation Requirement

Note for Spring 2025 Graduates: If you received a message that you need to take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) to complete your spring 2025 graduation requirements, the Brandon and Dale Mabry campuses have added additional FCLE testing slots on Saturday, April 26 starting at 9AM. Make an appointment at this Testing Webpage today: https://www.whos-next.com/hccfl/appointments/HCCFL/default

The State of Florida Rule: 6A-10.02413 states that students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018-19 and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy to earn their degree.

Depending on when you entered the Florida College System or State University System, you must satisfy this graduation requirement in one of the following ways:

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Students who initially entered the Florida College System or State University System in Fall 2018 through Summer 2021 to pursue an AA degree must:

(a) Successfully pass (with a grade of C or higher) either POS 2041 American Government or AMH 2020 Modern American History

OR

(b) Achieve the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment
AP Government and Politics: United States Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 3 or higher
AP United States History Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 4 or higher
CLEP: American Government Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
CLEP: History of the United States 1 Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
Florida Civic Literacy Exam - Pass with a 60% or higher

Students who initially entered the Florida College System or State University System in Fall 2021 through Summer 2024 to pursue an AA degree must:

(a) Successfully pass (with a grade of C or higher) either POS 2041 American Government or AMH 2020 Modern American History

AND

(b) Achieve the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment
AP Government and Politics: United States Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 3 or higher
AP United States History Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 4 or higher
CLEP: American Government Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
CLEP: History of the United States 1 Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
Florida Civic Literacy Exam - Pass with a 60% or higher

Students who initially entered the Florida College System or State University System in Fall 2022 through Summer 2024 to pursue an AS degree or a Bachelor's degree must:

(a) Successfully pass (with a grade of C or higher) either POS 2041 American Government or AMH 2020 Modern American History.

AND

(b) Achieve the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment
AP Government and Politics: United States Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 3 or higher
AP United States History Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 4 or higher
CLEP: American Government Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
CLEP: History of the United States 1 Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
Florida Civic Literacy Exam - Pass with a score of 60% or higher

Students who initially entered the Florida College System or State University System in Fall 2024 and later to pursue an AA degree, AS degree or a Bachelor's degree must:

(a) Successfully pass (with a grade of C or higher) either POS 2041 American Government, AMH 2020 Modern American History or AMH 2010 Early American History. Note: AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order taken in Spring 2025 or after is not currently offered at HCC, but may transfer in.

AND

(b) Achieve the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment
AP Government and Politics: United States Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 3 or higher
AP United States History Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 4 or higher
CLEP: American Government Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
CLEP: History of the United States 1 Satisfies the course and assessment requirement with a score of 50 or higher
Florida Civic Literacy Exam - Pass with a 60% or higher

Note: Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, students who earned a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination while in high school are exempt from the post-secondary civic literacy assessment requirement.

Note: Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, credits earned through authorized acceleration mechanisms in s. 1007.27, F.S., will count toward the civic literacy competency requirement.

How to take the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)

You may take the exam at any campus Test Center.
Schedule an exam appointment at your nearest HCC Test Center.
HCC does not offer the FCLE remotely, but students who take the test online from another institution may submit their score to meet the testing requirement.

Resources

Course Information:

Successful completion (grade of C or higher) of one of these classes will satisfy the course portion of this requirement:

POS 2041 American Government
AMH 2020 Modern American History
AMH 2010 Early American History (taken Fall 2024 or later)
AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order (taken Spring 2025 or later) This course is not currently offered at HCC, but may transfer in.

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Test Preparation:

To prepare for the FCLE, the following study materials are recommended for review:

Dale Mabry ASC FCLE Review Materials (requires login)
HCC Civics Literacy LibGuide
Florida DOE Sample Test and Info
FCLE Sample Items
FCLEsampleitem.pdf
Supplemental Guide for the FCLE
SuppGuide.pdf
American Government
modernstates.org/course/american-government
Note: This Modern States online course will also prepare you to take the CLEP. Students passing the CLEP do not need to complete the FCLE.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Civics Review
www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf
America’s Founding Documents
www.archives.gov/founding-docs
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
www.landmarkcases.org
Florida Civic Literacy Flashcards
https://quizlet.com/689908358/st-petersburg-college-civic-literacy-flashcards/?x=1jqt

Additional civic literacy resources from FLDOE

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I take the Florida Civics Literacy Exam (FCLE)?
Passing the FCLE is a graduation requirement. We recommend you complete it in your first year. If you are registered in either POS 2041, AMH 2020 or AMH 2010, we recommend taking the exam directly after completing the course.

What is a passing score on the FCLE?
You must correctly answer 48 out of the 80 questions (60%) to satisfy this graduation requirement.

Is there a charge for the FCLE?
No, the exam is offered free of charge.

Can I retake the exam if I do not pass?
Yes, you may. You must wait at least 72 hours before retaking the exam to allow for appointment setting and to prepare for your retake.

I was previously enrolled as a dual enrollment student. Do I need to take the FCLE?
The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entered into the AA. program during fall 2018 and this includes dual enrolled students. Depending on when you enrolled in Dual Enrollment you may need to take only the course or the course and the exam. See the information at the top of this page for more details.

I am a transfer student, do I need to take the FCLE?
The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-22 catalog year and students entering into A.S. programs during the 2022-23 catalog year, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes transfer students.

I am an out-of-state or international student, do I need to take the FCLE?
Yes, this graduation requirement includes students from out-of-state and international students.

I passed the FCLE prior to graduating from a Florida public high school or while enrolled at another Florida public university or college. How do I notify HCC of my scores?
If you have completed the FCLE at a Florida public high school, college or university, it will be reflected on your official transcript. Make sure to have your transcript sent to HCC electronically via FASTER to update your records with us. More transcript information is available here.

Contact us for more information

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