French 1
Self-paced online French 1 course (French 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →FloridaNursing
CLEP or a course? Ways to meet Florida's language requirement
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
There are four common ways to meet Florida's language requirement as an RN to BSN student: high school study, native-language proficiency, a proficiency exam your university lists, or two sequential college courses in one language. Your university names which of these it takes and how many credits it wants, so ask it in writing.
Route 1: high school record
Two years of the same language in high school meet the s. 1007.262 benchmark. It costs nothing. Send your high school transcript to the university if it is not already on file.
This route is often missed by nurses who finished high school many years ago. A records office can usually send an official copy. If your school has closed, your state's education department or school district often holds the records.
Route 2: native language
Section 1007.262 says a student who shows proficiency in a native language other than English is exempt from foreign language courses at the secondary or Florida College System level. Many Florida nurses were educated abroad. Ask your university which proof it wants: a foreign school record, a test or an interview.
This route matters in Florida, where many nurses grew up speaking Spanish, Haitian Creole, Tagalog or another language at home. The exemption is written into the statute, but the proof is a university decision.
Route 3: a proficiency exam
UCF lists an equivalent proficiency exam as one way to meet its rule. Universities name the exams and scores they take in their catalogs. Exam fees change, so check the exam provider's own page for the current fee and the university's catalog for the score it wants. An exam suits a nurse who already speaks some of the language.
Exams have trade-offs. You need enough of the language to pass, the score has to meet the university's cut-off, and a fail means waiting to retake. For a beginner, a course is usually the steadier route.
Route 4: two courses in one language
For a beginner, two courses in sequence is the usual route. You learn the language in order and the transcript shows a clear sequence.
Remember the credit question. Some colleges describe one year of college language as about 8 credit hours. French 1 and French 2 are 3 credits each. If your university wants more than 6 credits, ask what it would take to close the difference before you begin.
| Option | Credits | Price checked 15 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| UCF in-state tuition | 6-8 credits | $212.28 per credit hour |
| Sophia Learning | check its course list | $99 a month |
| UPI Study PRO: French 1 and 2 | 6 credits, NCCRS-recommended | $99 a month |
How to choose
Start with the free routes. If neither applies, compare an exam with a course. Then ask your university in writing which route it takes for your programme and how many credits it needs, before you spend money.
Whatever route you pick, the same rule applies: the university decides. UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. Our French courses are NCCRS-recommended and reach your university via a college transcript; whether they meet the requirement is the university's call.
- Already speak a language at home: ask about native-language proficiency
- Some prior study: an exam may be quickest
- True beginner: two courses in one language
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask your university's transfer or nursing advising office in writing whether two sequential 3-credit French courses meet its foreign language requirement before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Is an exam cheaper than a course?
Often, but only if you pass and your university lists that exam and score. Check the exam fee on the provider's own page and the score in your catalog before you book.
Can I take French 1 and French 2 at the same time?
Take them in order. A sequence is what the rule describes, and French 2 builds on French 1. Ask your university how it wants the sequence shown. Most students take one course a few weeks after the other so the second builds on the first; the order is what reviewers look for.
Which route is fastest?
The high school record and native-language routes take only paperwork. Of the paid routes, an exam is quickest for someone with prior study; two courses suit beginners. Whatever you choose, the written answer from your university comes first.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
French 2
Self-paced online French 2 course (French 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
French 1, French 2 and Statistics are on PRO. Confirm with your university first.
Sources
- Florida Statutes s. 1007.262: Foreign language competence; equivalence determinations (official)The benchmark is the competence shown after 2 credits of sequential high school foreign language; each Florida College System institution sets the minimum postsecondary credits that equal it; native-language proficiency exempts the student. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- University of Central Florida: Nursing (RN to BSN) degree page (official)Two years of one foreign language in high school, or one year of one foreign language in college (or an equivalent proficiency exam), before the third BSN semester; 120 total credit hours; in-state tuition $212.28 per credit hour. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.