Your next step towards meeting this civic literacy requirement depends on your current status.  All students have access to the Civic Literacy test through the UF Canvas site, this does not necessarily mean you are required to take the test. Please consult with your advisor before attempting to take the test. Please follow the steps below for students who are in your current status.

“Do I have to take the test?”

In 2017, the Florida Legislature amended section 1007,25, Florida Statutes, and introduced a new Civic Literacy Competency requirement  for all students graduating   from a public Florida institution, the State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS). Beginning  in fall 2018, students entering  a Florida public  institution for  the first time would need to demonstrate civic literacy through either taking a certain course or passing an exam. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject  to varying requirements.  As  demonstrated in Table 1, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

 Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated  mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement  and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement.  These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

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. Although Table 2 provides details on which options meet which competency, students in Cohort 2 need only complete either  the course or the exam competency as noted above.

Current Options for Cohorts 2 & 3

*The 2021 Legislature also amended section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, allowing all accelerated mechanism to count towards meeting civic literacy course requirements. Since these exams do not meet the exam competencies, they do not satisfy the exam competency requirement.

**The FLCE is in its final stages of development, and will be made available to SUS institutions before the conclusion of the fall 2021 semester,