FE Exam - Fundamentals of Engineering (Civil) Practice Test

Eligibility is determined by your state's licensing board, not NCEES. Most boards allow students in their final year of an ABET-accredited engineering program to take the exam. Some states may also allow graduates from non-ABET programs or individuals with extensive work experience to sit for the exam, but this varies. You must apply through your state board's website for approval to test.

The exam is computer-based and consists of 110 questions to be completed in 5 hours and 20 minutes. This includes a brief tutorial and an optional scheduled break. The first section contains 50 questions, and the second section contains 60 questions. All questions are multiple-choice, and an electronic version of the NCEES FE Reference Handbook is provided throughout the exam.

The exam is weighted according to the NCEES specification. Approximate weightings are: Mathematics (7-11%), Ethics and Professional Practice (4-6%), Engineering Economics (4-6%), Statics (7-11%), Dynamics (4-6%), Mechanics of Materials (7-11%), Materials (6-10%), Fluid Mechanics (7-11%), Surveying (4-6%), Water Resources and Environmental Engineering (11-15%), Structural Analysis (7-11%), Geotechnical Engineering (9-14%), Transportation Engineering (9-14%), and Construction Management (4-6%).

The single most authoritative resource is the NCEES FE Civil Practice Exam, as it provides actual exam-style questions. The NCEES FE Reference Handbook (available for free download) is the only reference material provided during the exam, so complete familiarity with its layout and content is critical. Supplement these with reputable review manuals, discipline-specific textbooks, and online question banks that align with the current exam specifications.

Upon passing, you become an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Engineering Intern (EI), depending on your state's terminology. This is not a license to practice independently but a recognized step toward licensure. You must then gain approximately four years of qualified, progressive engineering work experience under a licensed PE before you are eligible to take the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Civil exam to become a fully licensed Professional Engineer.