CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO

Department of Civil Engineering

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Information Sheet

Revised: Fall 2014

1. What is the FE Exam?

The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam is the first exam in the process to become a licensed
professional engineer (P.E.). This exam is now (as of January 2014) offered multiple times each
year, and most students take the exam right before graduation while the technical information
they've studied is still fresh in their minds. After passing this exam, you can be classified as an
Engineer-in-Training (EIT).

2. Who is eligible to take the FE Exam?

Prior to the examination date, applicants for the FE Exam must have completed at least three
years postsecondary (college level) engineering education from an ABET-Accredited engineering
program or have three years engineering work experience, or have a combination of the education
and experience that totaled at least three years. (Sacramento State’s Civil Engineering Program is
ABET accredited.) This requirement typically means that seniors at Sacramento State within one
year of graduation are eligible to take the FE Exam.

3. When should I take the FE Exam?

The FE Exam tests knowledge learned during college. Civil Engineering students should take the
Civil Engineering FE Exam during their last year at Sacramento State – after completing many of
the required, upper-division civil engineering courses.

4. Why should I wait to take FE Exam?

The courses you are required to take at Sacramento State should prepare you for this exam, and
you should wait until you have completed most of the courses covered on the exam before you
take the exam. Topics included on the civil exam are shown in the table below along with the
percentage of questions:

Knowledge Areas (110 Questions) Questions Percentage

Mathematics [MATH 30 – MATH 45] 7 - 11 6 - 10%
Probability and Statistics [ENGR 115] 4-6 3 - 6%
Computational Tools [CE 101] 4-6 3 - 6%
Ethics and Professional Practice [CE 146] 4-6 3 - 6%
Engineering Economics [ENGR 140] 4-6 3 - 6%
Statics [ENGR 30] 7 - 11 6 - 10%
Dynamics [ENGR 110] 4-6 3 - 6%
Mechanics of Materials [ENGR 112] 7 - 11 6 - 10%
Material Properties [ENGR 45] 4-6 3 - 6%
Fluid Mechanics [ENGR 132] 4-6 3 - 6%
Hydraulics & Hydrologic Systems [CE 135/CE 137] 8 - 12 7 - 11%
Structural Analysis [CE 113/CE 161] 4-6 3 - 6%
Structural Design [CE structural design electives] 6-9 5 - 9%
Geotechnical Engineering [CE 171A] 9 - 14 8 -13%
Transportation Engineering [CE 147] 8 - 12 7 - 11%
Environmental Engineering [CE 170] 6-9 5 - 9%
Construction [-] 4-6 3 - 6%
Surveying [CE 9] 4-6 3 - 6%
Current exam specifications for the Civil Engineering FE Exam is located online at: http://ncees.org/exams.

Page 1 of 2 Fall 2014

 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Department of Civil Engineering

5. How do I register for the FE Exam?

Step 1. Register for the FE exam and pay the examination fee on the NCEES website by creating
an account and logging into MyNEECS at http://account.ncees.org.
Step 2. Wait to receive authorization notification from NCEES to schedule an exam.
Step 3. Schedule the exam.
Step 4. Receive the appointment confirmation letter from the Pearson VUE test centers.
(Step 5. Take the exam. )

Examinees who pass the FE exam are required to complete an “Application for Certification as an
Engineer-in-Training or a Land Surveyor-in-Training” form
(http://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/pubs/forms/eit-lsitapp2012.pdf) and along with a $50
application fee (check or money order only – credit cards are not accepted) to the
California Board to be issued a certificate as an Engineer-in-Training (EIT).

6. When is the FE Exam offered?

The FE Exam is a computer-based exam, offered in testing “windows” throughout the year during
the following months:
• January–February
• April–May
• July–August
• October–November
Exams are not administered during March, June, September, or December. Register for and
schedule your exam as far in advance as possible for the best scheduling availability. You may
attempt the FE Exam one time per testing window, but no more than three times in a 12-month
period.

7. How much does it cost to take the FE Exam?

$225 (so you only want to take it once).

8. How should I review for the FE Exam?

• The Civil Engineering required coursework should prepare you for the civil portion of the FE
Exam. Review your course notes. Sacramento State’s Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor
Society also offers a review of general engineering courses. The purpose of these review
courses is to review material from courses that you have already completed – not to teach
new material for the first time.
• Library resources and websites are available to review for the FE Exam, which can include
sample exam questions and links to streaming video review sessions.
• You can also purchase FE Exam study guides and practice exams on the NCEES website.

9. Where can I find a copy of the FE Reference Manual?

You can download a free copy of the FE-Supplied Reference Handbook at:
http://ncees.org/exams/study-materials/download-fe-supplied-reference-handbook.

10. Questions?
• General questions about the FE Exam can be directed to your Civil Engineering advisor.
• More info about the FE Exam can be found on the NCEES website at http://ncees.org and in
the NCEES Examinee Guide: http://ncees.org/exams/cbt/examinee-guide.

Page 2 of 2 Fall 2014