ENGG.tv Magazine

Help! I don’t know anything about FE Exam

New to the concept of Professional Engineering (PE) licensure? This is a good place to start.


If you do not know anything about FE Exam, this article is a good place to start:

  • FE Exam stands for Fundamentals of Engineering exam. It is the first step in gaining Professional Engineering (PE) licensure. It is to be given as a proof of proficiency of your engineering knowledge gained in your four-year engineering degree.
  • It is conducted by NCEES, all year long. It is a computerized test. It is 6 hours long and has 110 questions.
  • You can take the exam in one of the seven disciplines.
    • Civil Engineering,
    • Chemical Engineering,
    • Environmental Engineering,
    • Industrial and Systems Engineering,
    • Mechanical Engineering,
    • Electrical and Computer Engineering,
    • Other Engineering
  • It is NOT necessary to take the exam in your discipline. e.g. If you are Mechanical Engineer, you can take exam Civil engineering, provided you are comfortable with those topics.
  • You are allowed to use a reference handbook during exam. While preparing for your studies, this handbook can be downloaded from the NCEES website.
  • You are also allowed to use scientific calculators, the list of approved models are listed on the NCEES website.
  • Once you pass the FE exam, you qualify for the next level, Professional Engineering (PE) Exam. Passing PE exam allows you to get a PE license, which, in turn, allows you to approve building, electrical or Mechanical plans. PE licensure is a symbol of expertise in your field.
Still have questions? Please refer this article which presents this information in Q&A format.