The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step to becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer in the US. It is offered twice a year and consists of two four-hour sessions with a pass/fail scoring system. The exam covers various engineering disciplines and is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step for anyone in the United States who wants to become a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Most engineering students take the exam during their senior year of college, but people who graduated earlier are also eligible. Those who pass the FE exam receive certification as either an Engineer in Training (EIT) or an Engineering Intern (EI), depending on the state.
The FE exam is offered twice a year, in April and October. Students studying engineering or engineering sciences at a university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Engineering and Technology (ABET) are eligible to take the exam during their final two semesters of school. In some states, these students are automatically approved to take the exam, but in others they must apply. Other people who are eligible to take the exam, such as those who have a previous degree or qualify based on work experience, must submit an application to be approved to take the exam.
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) develops and administers the FE exam. The organization publishes the “Fundamentals of Engineering Reference Manual” which is the only reference material allowed on test day. This manual includes formulas and facts needed for each section of the exam, as well as units and conversion factors. It is available in advance so test takers can use the handbook to study. NCEES supplies most of the exam materials, including pencils and scratch paper – participants are only allowed to bring an approved calculator.
The FE exam consists of two four-hour sessions with a one-hour break. In the morning, the general section of the exam is administered, consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions. Mathematics questions comprise the bulk of the subject in the general section, with about 15% of the questions being about mathematics. The statics and dynamics, chemistry and electricity and magnetism sections comprise nine or 10% of the test. Statistics, computers, ethics, engineering economics, strength of materials, material properties, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics are also included in the general section.
In the afternoon, participants choose an exam module based on their engineering discipline. Seven modules are available: chemical, civil, environmental, electrical, mechanical, industrial or a general module that contains more in-depth questions on the subjects covered in the morning exam. Each module consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
The FE exam is scored on a pass/fail basis. Subject matter experts determine which score indicates “minimum competence” and that score becomes the passing cutoff. Test takers receive their results approximately eight to 10 weeks after the test.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
