The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is six hours long and a critical step for those seeking to become a Professional Engineer (PE). This test is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It’s usually taken by students in their senior year of an engineering program or soon after graduation, as it assesses your understanding of fundamental engineering principles and prepares you for the next step in your engineering career.
But does knowing that the NCEES FE exam is six hours long tell you everything you need to know?
Definitely not.
I’ve combined some of the most important must-know details about the FE exams and FE exam question types in this short read. I’ll also answer some of the most common FAQs, like how much time is given for each section and how long it takes to get FE exam results.
Key Takeaways
- Exam Duration: The FE exam lasts approximately 6 hours and includes a tutorial, two testing sections, a scheduled break, and a brief survey.
- Question Types: The exam features 110 multiple-choice questions, including traditional, fill-in-the-blank, and discipline-specific questions.
- Preparation Resources: Utilize the FE Reference Handbook, practice exams, and focus on discipline-specific topics to enhance your preparation.
- Scheduling and Tools: The FE exam is available year-round at NCEES-approved test centers, and candidates must use an NCEES-approved calculator.
How Long is the FE Exam?
The FE exam is a computer-based test that lasts approximately 6 hours. This time includes a tutorial, the actual exam questions, a scheduled break, and a brief survey. The breakdown of time is as follows:
- Tutorial: 8 minutes
- Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA): 2 minutes
- First Section (Exam Questions): Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Scheduled Break: 25 minutes
- Second Section (Exam Questions): Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Brief Survey: 5 minutes
Reasonable accommodations can be made for test takers who need more time and meet certain requirements. For example, any individual with a documented disability recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or who has a scheduling conflict due to military involvement can request these accommodations.
If you’d like to request accommodations, you can do so during the registration process.
“I finished mine earlier too, but ended up staying and just double checking some questions, just in case. I took mine a couple weeks ago and passed on my first try. My advice would be to finish the first section as fast as possible. Probably in around 2 hours or so, so you have more time to do the second part. Second section is way harder and you will be tired, so you won’t be able to do questions as fast.”
u/kellenteles
Exam Structure
The FE exam consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. These questions look for correct answers that cover a range of subjects specific to the engineering discipline chosen. The disciplines available include the following:
- FE Chemical
- FE Civil
- FE Electrical and Computer
- FE Environmental
- FE Industrial and Systems
- FE Mechanical
- FE Other Disciplines
Preparing for the Exam
To prepare for the FE exam, you should use the FE Reference Handbook, which is provided by NCEES. This handbook contains formulas, tables, and other information needed to answer the exam questions. It is available as a free download from the NCEES website.
During the exam, an electronic version of this handbook will be accessible. While physical copies are available for purchase, they are not permitted into the testing area.
Although many engineers assume that this is the complete study materials needed, only relying on the NCEES guide often leads to failure.
To prepare, you should also consider participating in a PE exam review program like the School of PE. These programs are tailored to help hopeful Professional Engineers strengthen their knowledge and better understand what areas to focus on during study sessions.
Taking the FE Exam
The FE exam is offered year-round. When you schedule your exam, you will select a date and location from one of the NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test centers. On the day of the exam, ensure you bring a valid ID and an NCEES-approved calculator. You can take the FE exam up to three times in a 12-month period.
Exam Day Details
- Session Begins: Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time.
- Break Time: You will have one scheduled 25-minute break. You can take unscheduled breaks, but the exam clock will continue to run.
- Point and Click: The computer-based format allows you to point and click to select answers. You can also flag questions to review later.
“You cannot bring anything in the room besides your ID, calculator, glasses, sweater, and locker key. If you need to drink water you have to raise your hand for the proctor to walk you out of the room. The same goes if you have to go to the restroom. However, I would try to go before the exam because your time will keep running unless your taking your scheduled break after the first section. Also every time you come back in the testing room you have to pat yourself down, flip your pockets inside out, and scan your palm which takes up a lot of time especially if their is more than one person trying to go in.”
Reddit User
Answering the Questions
The FE exam covers fundamental engineering principles. These include traditional multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, point-and-click, and discipline-specific questions. The exam assesses your ability to apply engineering concepts, interpret data, and perform calculations, providing a comprehensive evaluation of your engineering knowledge and skills.
During the exam, you can move between questions within each section. Unanswered questions will not receive any points. It’s a good idea to answer all questions, even if you have to guess. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
“You get a total of 5 hours and 20 minutes for the whole exam. There are 110 questions, split into 2 sections of 55. You finish the first section at your own pace (time limit is only for the whole exam, not broken down per section) and then take your break. Then when you return you have the remaining time to finish the second section. So yes, your time carries over. I think I ended up only taking 3 hours to finish mine and got to leave early!”
u/vanderburger
After the Exam
Upon completing the FE exam, your answers are submitted for scoring. NCEES typically releases results within 7–10 days. Passing the FE exam is the first step toward obtaining your PE license. Once you pass, you can apply for an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification.
Conclusion
The FE exam is a crucial step in the journey to becoming a Professional Engineer. This six-hour exam is split into two sessions and requires thorough preparation and an understanding of the format and content. Utilize the FE Reference Handbook, practice with multiple-choice questions, study from the best FE prep courses, and ensure you are familiar with the computer-based test format. Passing the FE exam paves the way for EIT certification and eventually earning your PE license. Good luck to all aspiring engineers!
FAQ
There are 110 multiple-choice questions on the FE exam.
No, but you can access the FE Reference Handbook electronically during the exam.
You can take the FE exam up to three times in a 12-month period.
You must use an NCEES-approved calculator. The list of approved models is available on the NCEES website.
Results are typically available 7-10 days after you take the exam.
