How do I register for the fundamental engineering exam
Andrew Campbell
Published Mar 14, 2026
Registration for the FE exam is done on line through the NCEES web site. To register for an FE exam, log in to your MyNCEES account, select the REGISTER button, and follow the onscreen instructions. An exam fee of $225 is payable directly to NCEES during the registration process.
Where do you take the FE exam?
The FE exam is a computer-based exam administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers.
Do I need to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam?
Remember passing the FE exam is simply a required, intermediate step before becoming eligible to take-pass the PE exam. Will passing the FE help you get a raise? It depends. If you are a civil engineer, it is expected for you to pass the FE exam from the very beginning of your career.
When can I take the FE exam in California?
The FE Exam is a national test that most US engineering students from accredited programs take in their senior year or shortly after graduation. The FE is offered in April and in October each year in 5 locations throughout California.How can I apply for PE exam?
Meet minimum experience requirement under the direct supervision of a licensed PE (usually 4 years) for those with an ABET-accredited Bachelor’s degree in engineering. Be able to pass a background check. Submit Experience Record (ER) signed by your references. Submit application paperwork to your state board.
Is FE exam open book?
The FE Exam is closed book because it’s a computer-based test. You cannot bring any books into the testing center. … It includes everything you’ll need to pass the FE Exam, plus it’s searchable, too!
Can you take the FE online?
All registration for FE exams is done online. Consequently, the only thing you need is a MyNCEES account and money to pay for the exam. Here’s a brief step-by-step guide to the FE exam registration process: Create or log in to your MyNCEES account.
Who is eligible to take the FE exam?
The FE exam is open to anyone who has a degree in engineering or a related field, or is currently enrolled in the last year of an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited engineering degree program.Is the FE exam worth it?
In itself, the FE/EIT is not worth a whole lot. However, I tell all of the engineers I mentor to take it as soon as they are eligible. The key here is that the PE license is tremendously valuable in many areas of engineering. You never know where you will end up so it is best to take the FE/EIT so you are prepared.
Can I take PE exam without Fe in California?There are states in which you may apply directly for the PE exam without taking the FE exam if you have at least 12 years of engineering work experience that is acceptable to the PE Board, wherein in five of those years, you are in “responsible charge” of engineering work.
Article first time published onHow do I get a fe certificate?
- Step 1: Check Your State’s Requirements. …
- Step 2: Register with the NCEES. …
- Step 3: Pay the NCEES Fee. …
- Step 4: Pass the FE Exam. …
- Step 5: Apply to your Board for your Certificate.
Does passing the FE exam help get job?
Passing the test shows potential employers that you are qualified to be an engineer and that you are serious about your career. … After passing the FE exam, you are considered an “engineer-in-training.” Among the many candidates you’ll be competing against, this is a great way to differentiate yourself.
Does FE exam transfer state state?
The FE is a national exam administered by NCEES so the test will be the same wherever you take the FE exam. And unlike the PE exam, state boards don’t mandate where you physically take the exam, as long as NCEES certifies you passed. … Please be sure to take the FE exam as soon as you are eligible.
How much does the PE exam cost?
ItemCostNCEES Exam Fees$700 ($350*2 for taking it twice)School of PE Review Course$1,290Civil Engineering Reference Manual$86.87 (used)Civil Engineering PE Practice Exams$54.19
When should I take PE?
Traditionally, licensure candidates have been permitted to take the PE exam after passing the FE exam and gaining four years of approved experience. Beginning in 2005, however, states began to consider allowing candidates to take the PE exam before gaining four years of experience.
What is a PE certificate?
What is a PE license? A Professional Engineering license is a certification that demonstrates an engineer’s adherence to a higher level of standards. Prior to 1907, proof of skill and proficiency was not required for individuals to work as engineers, thus putting public welfare, health, and safety at risk.
Do computer engineers need to take the FE?
The FE is generally not required for Computer Engineers.
Does Fe certification expire?
Engineer intern certification simply signifies that you have passed the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, and is valid indefinitely.
Can you take the FE exam after graduation?
Most students take this exam during their final semester as an undergrad, but it can be taken earlier or post-graduation, if desired. The FE exam is not state-specific and is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
How do I schedule FE exam?
STEP 1: Register and pay for the exam using the MyNCEES portal. STEP 2: Receive an authorization from NCEES to schedule your exam at a date and centre of your choosing. STEP 3: Use the portal to schedule your exam. STEP 4: Receive a confirmation from PearsonVUE.
What percent do you need to pass the FE exam?
FE Electrical and Computer: 73% FE Environmental: 79% FE Industrial: 70% FE Mechanical: 79%
Do you get a formula sheet on the FE exam?
The FE is a closed book exam; however, students are given a Supplied-Reference Handbook containing reference formulas and tables that you are not expected to have memorized.
Can you pass the FE without studying?
Just to reassure you, the FE exam is a standardized test, just like the ones you’ve taken regularly throughout your life. You absolutely need to be prepared, but as long as you put in the time and use the right study guides, you will be able to pass it.
How long should I study for FE?
We recommend planning to study for at least 2 to 3 months before your FE exam date. Once you get started practicing problems from all of the different topics covered, you’ll have a better idea if you need to spend more or less time preparing.
How many times can you fail the FE?
You can take the FE exam once within each 3-month time window and only 3 attempts are allowed every 12 months. Those windows are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sept, and Oct-Dec. You will also need to reach out to your state board to ask how many times they will approve you to sit for the exam.
Can you become an engineer without a degree?
Although becoming an engineer without a college degree is indeed possible, you still need to graduate high school to be on your way to an engineering career.
Can I take FE and PE at the same time?
Yes. Pass FE first, get the required experience to qualify for the PE if you dont have it, then apply and take the PE.
Can I call myself an engineer without a PE?
If you do not have a PE license, you cannot officially call yourself an engineer — and your company cannot identify you as an engineer — in official documents, such as business cards, letterheads and resumes. Additionally, you will need to register as a PE if you decide to work for yourself as a consultant.
What percentage of engineers have a PE?
According to DOL, there are 1.6 million engineering job. So roughly 1 in 4 engineers are PE.
Do I have to take Fe before PE?
To pursue a professional engineering license (PE), you must first pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination. Check the State Licensing Board where you will take the exam for specific eligibility requirements.
How do I become an Fe engineer?
- Be a college senior or a graduate of a 4-year ABET-accredited engineering program.
- A handful of states require you to submit an application prior to authorizing you to take the FE exam. …
- Register with NCEES to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.