To become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the US, one must take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Registration requirements vary by state, but typically require an ABET-accredited degree in engineering or science. The exam is administered twice a year and registration is completed online through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) website.
Anyone wishing to become licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States must take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam as one of the first steps in the licensing process. Registering for the FE exam is more complicated than simply registering to take a test; Registration requirements vary by state, but there are certain minimum qualifications that anyone taking the exam must meet, such as education or a degree from an accredited university. Most students are required to submit an application to their state licensing board for approval to register, but some states waive this requirement. Registration itself takes place online through the National Board of Examiners for Engineering and Inspection website.
The qualification process for registering for the FE exam begins long before anyone can take it. To become a licensed professional engineer, a person generally must earn a degree from an engineering program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Engineering and Technology (ABET). The first step in qualifying for the FE exam, therefore, is to enroll in an ABET-accredited baccalaureate program. A person can take the FE exam after successfully completing about three years in an FE exam.
Some non-engineering courses may qualify someone to sit for the FE exam. A four-year degree in engineering technology from an ABET-accredited program or an engineering or science degree that meets certain minimum requirements usually qualify. Any degree that qualifies a person to take the FE exam must have a minimum amount of work in mathematics and engineering sciences, such as courses in mechanical and electrical engineering.
The FE exam is usually taken during a student’s final year of graduation, although it may also be taken by graduate students and people who already hold an engineering degree. Many states require students to be within two semesters of graduation with a bachelor’s degree to take the exam. The applicant must submit an application form to the state licensing board in most states. A person can apply for the FE exam only after receiving board approval. Some states do not require an application to register for the FE exam, provided the participant is an enrolled student or already holds a qualifying degree.
Registration for the FE exam is completed online at the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) website, which also develops the exam. Once a person is granted permission to register or meets the minimum requirements, they can access the NCEES website, complete the registration process, and pay the exam fee. The FE exam is administered in April and October each year. Application deadlines are mid-February for the April exam and mid-July for the October exam. In states where candidates must apply to take the exam, the application deadline is usually about a month before the application deadline.
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