The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is one of the first steps in the licensure process for anyone who wants to become a Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States. Registration for the FE exam is more complicated than simply signing up to take a test; registration requirements vary by state, but everyone who takes the exam must meet certain minimum qualifications, such as studying at or having a degree from a properly accredited university. Most students must submit an application to their state licensing board for registration approval, but some states do not require this. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying website is where you can register.
Long before someone can sit for the FE exam, they must first qualify for registration. A person must generally earn a degree from an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in order to become a licensed professional engineer (ABET). Enrolling in an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree program is the first step toward qualifying for the FE exam. After completing about three years in such a program, a person is eligible to take the FE exam.
Some non-engineering degrees may also qualify you to take the FE exam. A four-year engineering technology degree from an ABET-accredited program or a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science that meets certain minimum requirements will usually suffice. Any degree that qualifies a person to take the FE exam must include a minimum of math and engineering science courses, such as mechanical and electrical engineering.
The FE exam is usually taken during a student’s final year of undergraduate study, but it can also be taken by graduate students and people who already have a bachelor’s degree in engineering. To take the exam, many states require students to be within two semesters of receiving a bachelor’s degree. In most states, an applicant must submit an application form to their state licensing board. Only after receiving approval from their board can a person register for the FE exam. If the exam taker is an enrolled student or already has a qualifying degree, some states do not require an application for FE exam registration.
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which also develops the exam, accepts FE exam registrations online. After receiving permission to register or meeting the minimum requirements, a person can go to the NCEES website to finish the registration process and pay the exam fee. The FE exam is given twice a year, in April and October. The registration deadlines for the April exam are in mid-February, and the registration deadline for the October exam is in mid-July. The application deadline is usually about a month before the registration deadline in states where applicants must apply to take the exam.