About FE Exams

You know that taking the FE exam is required for graduation, but what exactly is the FE exam and why is it so important?

The Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first step in gaining licensure as a professional engineer. Typically, engineering students take this exam closer to their graduation (usually within three terms of graduating). This is because the exam has questions based on the knowledge you have accumulated throughout your undergraduate engineering studies. Some of the classes that will help you prepare for the general portions of the exam include Statics, Strength of Materials, Circuits, Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics.

Registration

Registration for the FE exam takes place entirely online now through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) web page: http://ncees.org/

A few notes about the changes in the FE Exam that began January 2014

  • The FE exam is entirely CBT (Computer-based testing).
  • The fees for registration is $175.
  • Registration for the FE exam is open year-round.
  • The FE exam is administered during four test-taking periods: January-February, April-May, July-August and October-November.
  • NCEES has partnered with Pearson to provide test-taking facilities. You can search for the nearest testing center through the NCEES web page.

For the FE Exam

  • You can download a free PDF version of the FE Reference Handbook on the NCEES web page.
  • The different afternoon exam areas are: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, and Other Disciplines. This information can be found at: http://ncees.org/exams/fe-exam/.
  • Afternoon module topics are available on the NCEES web page so you will know what to expect and can study accordingly!
  • The FE Exam lasts six hours with Computer-based testing and 110 multiple-choice questions.
  • There are rules based on what type of calculator is permitted at the testing center. Types of calculators which are allowed are listed at: http://ncees.org/exams/calculator-policy/

The Student Success Center (Driftmier 1156) has several resources to help students prepare for the exam

  • FE reference handbooks
  • FE study books with practice problems and solutions
  • To check out these materials please fill out this form.

Engineer-In-Training certification

Once you pass the FE exam and upon graduation, you are eligible to apply for an Engineer-In-Training certification with Georgia’s Secretary Board of Land Surveyors and Professional Engineers. Below are the items you need to submit to receive the certification:
Anyone who desires to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam may do so by going to the NCEES website, www.ncees.org, and registering. Prior board approval for this particular exam is no longer required.

When the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is passed, if the individual desires to be certified as an Engineer-In-Training (EIT) in Georgia, he/she must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • graduated from a college or university on completion of a four year curriculum in engineering approved by the Board, and a transcript, or
  • graduated from a college or university on completion of a four year curriculum in engineering technology or a related science approved by the board, and a transcript evidencing such graduation is provided by the college or university directly,
  • acquired not less than eight years of acceptable engineering experience, and
  • made application to the board and submitted the requisite, non-refundable, fee of $20 to the board (made payable to the Secretary of State)

The application for EIT certification can be found here.


Professional Engineering (PE) Licensure

You’ve got the EIT certification, now what?

You can apply for the Professional Engineering (PE) licensure after you have:

  • obtained EIT (Engineer-in-Training) Certification through the state board
  • graduated from a four-year engineering curriculum
  • acquired not less than four years of acceptable engineering experience
  • passed the written examination in the Professional Engineering exam
  • applied for certification to NCEES and through the state licensure board

Information on why receiving PE licensure is important and how it is relevant to your engineering career can be found on the National Society of Professional Engineer’s web page: http://www.nspe.org/Licensure/WhyGetLicensed/index.html.


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