Florida Civic Literacy
Civic Literacy Requirements and the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE)
Testing is by appointment only and is available in Madison, Live Oak, and Perry. Call to schedule an appointment. FCLE appointments are currently available for NFC students only.
- NFC Main Campus Testing Center: 850-973-9451
- Live Oak Location: 386-364-5093
- Perry Location: 850-371-5185
Are you an NFC student who needs help preparing for the FCLE? Contact the Academic Success Center for free tutoring. Email ASC@nfc.edu or call 850-973-1719.
What are Civic Literacy requirements?
Pursuant to Section 1007.25(5), FS, Associate in Arts and Bachelor’s degree-seeking students initially entering the Florida College System in the 2021-2022 school year and thereafter must satisfy civic literacy requirements prior to graduation.
Students who entered the Florida College System prior to the 2021-2022 year but have elected to graduate under the current catalog also must satisfy the civic literacy requirement as detailed below.
Prior to the award of an Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2022-2023 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy as detailed below.
To meet the requirements and demonstrate competency, students must complete a course AND pass an approved assessment.
Course Requirement
The Civic Literacy course requirement can be met by successfully completing one of the following courses:
- AMH2020 American History II
- POS 2041 American National Government
Assessment Requirement
The Civic Literacy assessment requirement can be met by successfully completing one of the following assessment options.
ASSESSMENT |
STANDARD SCORE |
AP Government and Politics: United States * |
3 |
AP United States History * |
4 |
CLEP American Government * |
50 |
Florida Civic Literacy Examination |
60 |
*A minimum standard score on an AP or CLEP exam would satisfy both the course and the assessment requirements for civic literacy. |
NOTE: Students whose effective catalog year is between 2018-2019 to 2020-2021 should refer to the Civic Literacy Requirements as defined in their catalog of study. Consult with the graduation specialist for clarification.
Clarification of Civic Literacy Requirement for Dual Enrolled Students:
Students who are dual enrolled are not required to meet civic literacy competency. Should the student matriculate to NFC following high school graduation and seek an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Bachelor's degree, the civic literacy competency will need to be met.
What is the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE)?
- The FCLE is one assessment option for meeting the Civic Literacy Assessment requirement.
- The FCLE is available in the NFC Testing Center, Building #16. Tests are given by appointment only.
- Test Overview:
- Passing score is 60% (48 correct out of 80)
- Untimed (allow at least 3 hours)
- Approximately 80 multiple choice questions
- Questions cover four categories: American Democracy, U.S. Constitution, Founding Documents, Landmark Court Cases and their Impact on Society
- Fee: There is currently no fee for the FCLE for NFC students.
- Photo I.D. is required to test
- Arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment. Testing will begin promptly at the designated time. Late arrivals may not be allowed to test.
- Students who pass the FCLE in high school may have test results sent by their high school to NFC on their official FASTER transcript. Contact your high school to request your transcript.
Retesting and Attempt Limits:
- Students should wait a minimum of 30 days before scheduling to retest.
- NFC students have unlimited attempts at the FCLE.
Highly Recommended Study Resources
- NFC Academic Success Center can help you prepare with free tutoring and workshops.
- NFC courses AMH 2020 American History II or POS 2041 American National Government should prepare students to pass the FCLE. Students are encouraged to take the FCLE while currently enrolled in or soon after passing one of these courses.
- High school course “U.S. Government” should prepare students for the FCLE.
- FCLE Sample Test Items
- Supplemental Guide for the FCLE
- ConstitutionFacts.com Landmark Legal Cases (PDF)
- ConstitutionFacts.com Constitution Treasure Hunts (PDF quizzes and answers)
- Citizenship Resource Center, Study for the Test resources:
- Citizenship Study Guide Practice Quizzes
- Supreme Court Cases Quiz
- FAU Civic Literacy Exam Workshop Video Series:
- The White House webpages:
More Study Resources
- American Government review course from Modern States (can be used as a review for the FCLE or a CLEP exam to try to also earn course credit. Note that passing this CLEP exam will satisfy both the Civic Literacy course and assessment requirements.)
- History of the United States II review course from Modern States (can be used as a review for the FCLE or a CLEP exam to try to also earn course credit. Note that passing this CLEP exam will satisfy the Civic Literacy course requirement, but not the assessment requirement.)
- American Bar Association Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Cases
- FSU Academic Center for Excellence Civic Literacy Resources
- Khan Academy, U.S. Government and Civics
- Lou Frey Institute
- Postsecondary Civics Literacy resources from FLDOE
- Quizlet Civic Literacy Review
- The U.S. Constitution
- FLDOE Resources to Foster Civic Literacy
General Test Preparation Tips
- Review study resources in several 20 – 40 minutes blocks of time.
- Carefully read each question and all answer choices before making your selection.
- In some cases, you may need to apply logic in your knowledge to the test questions (for example, how U.S. Amendments relate to specific court cases).
- You will be able to flag questions and return to them later for further review.
- It is better to make an educated guess than to not answer all questions.
- Before submitting your exam, review the entire exam to confirm all questions are answered.
“NFC is an accessible campus. If you have a disability and need an accommodation for this test, please set up an appointment with the Office of Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 850-973-9403 or 850-973-1611 (TTY) at least five working days before the test. Bring your disability documentation to this appointment. After the meeting and the paperwork review, the appropriate accommodations will be provided.”