What are the requirements to take the FE Exam?
The NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is the first of two necessary exams for engineers to be licensed professional engineers (PE) in the United States.
Before eligible to take the P.E. Exam, engineering college seniors or working engineers must pass the F.E. exam and have engineering work exposure.
The examinee is referred to as a licensed professional engineer after acing the P.E. exam (P.E.).
A licensed professional engineer has the full legal authority to stamp and seal any engineering documents for distribution to the general public.
Remember, you cannot offer engineering services to the public without being a P.E.
Specific conditions must be met to be qualified to take the F.E. exam.
To begin, you must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited institution. ABET certification ensures that a college or university program satisfies the quality requirements of the profession for which it teaches students.
Additionally, you can be enrolled in an EAC/ABET engineering program and still be eligible to take the F.E. exam. However, to take the F.E. exam, you must be in your final year of college or university. The exam is to be brought within one year of graduating from college if you are already a graduate.
If ABET does not accredit your program, you can request a review to check if your educational background meets the engineering standards.
Since each state board has different standard, it is advisable to visit their specific website to see whether you're eligible.
If you are ruled ineligible, or your degree is not accepted. In that case, you will need to complete a four-year degree in an ABET-accredited engineering program to be eligible to take the F.E. exam.
If you are not enrolled in an ABET-accredited B.E. program, you will require six years of experience for the F.E. exam and 12 years for the P.E. exam.
This experience will be valid if it is done under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer. Finally, using the NCEES website to apply can be considered a necessity for taking the F.E. exam.
