FE Exam
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying offers the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam as part of the licensing process. The substance of the test includes material that would be learned in a usual EAC/ABET-accredited engineering program for which a candidate would earn a degree. The test covers a wide variety of topics related to engineering. Eligibility rules are different depending on the jurisdiction.
The test takes eight hours. It is split into two, four-hour sessions. There are 180 multiple-choice items. The morning session includes questions that are broad in scope. It has 12 questions, broken down approximately as follows:
- Mathematics - 15%
- Engineering Probability and Statistics - 7%
- Chemistry - 9%
- Computers - 7%
- Ethics and Business Practices - 7%
- Engineering Economics - 8%
- Engineering Mechanics (Statics and Dynamics) - 10%
- Strength of Materials - 7%
- Material Properties - 7%
- Fluid Mechanics - 7%
- Electricity and Magnetism - 9%
- Thermodynamics - 7%
The afternoon session of 60 test items is the candidate's choice, and it may be either a general test or one that is particular to a career path, such as chemical, civil, electrical, environmental, industrial or mechanical.
Certain types of calculators are allowed, but they cannot have a QWERTY-type keyboard (like the keyboard on a computer). No tools for communication are allowed (phones or otherwise). A mechanical pencil will be available for use in the exam; candidates cannot use their own pencils, lead or erasers. The test is graded with a machine, and candidates will either pass or fail. Candidates need a scaled score with a minimum of 70 to pass.
Commercial Resources for the FE Exam Preparation (provided for information only, no endorsement implied)
FE Exam Study Guide from Mometrix Media
FE Exam Flashcards from Mometrix Media
