Exam Process & Requirements
Jonathon Mauritz, EIT
Erik Howard, PE
John Rigby
Mechanical Design Engineer
Vice President
Category Manager
Hudson Products Corporation
Knighthawk Engineering
Chevron Pipeline
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
Engineer in Training (EIT)
Engineer Intern (EI)
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First step to becoming a licensed Professional
Engineer (PE)
Taken semester of graduation
Administered by the National Council of
Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
(NCEES)
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Administered in April and October
8 hour duration ~ 2 sessions
180 multiple-choice questions
◦ 120 in morning session (same for everyone)
 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
◦ Lunch
 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
◦ 60 in afternoon session (selected discipline)
 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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Closed book
◦ FE Supplied Reference Handbook is provided on day
of exam
What is a metric ton?
(A) 200 kg
(B) 1000 kg
(C) 2000 kg
(D) 2 kN
Solution
A metric ton, also known as a tonne, is 1000 kg.
Answer is B.
Water flows through a 5 cm diameter pipe at 5 m/s.
What is the velocity after it expands through a 10
cm diameter section?
(A) 1.00 m/s
(B) 1.25 m/s
(C) 2.50 m/s
(D) 10.0 m/s
Solution
Q is constant, v1A1 = v2A2, v2 = 1.25 m/s.
Answer is B.
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Rice administers the FE in April only
◦ Next exam – Saturday, April 14th 2012
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Online registration at www.tbpe.state.tx.us
◦ $125 registration fee by credit card only
◦ Dean of Engineering will reimburse the $125 fee
upon passing the exam
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Last year’s reference manuals
◦ Available in the Dean of Engineering Office
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Sample questions & reference materials
◦ Fondren Library – Reserve Desk under FE Exam
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Exam authorization notice
◦ Download via your My NCEES account 2-3 weeks
prior to exam date
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Photo ID
◦ Current, signed, government-issued photo ID
◦ Must match exam authorization notice
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Calculator
◦ Casio: All FX-115 models
◦ HP: HP 33S & HP 35S, no other models
◦ TI: All TI-30X & TI-36X models
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FE Review Manual
◦ Author: Michael R. Lindeburg, PE
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NCEES Reference Handbook
◦ Author: NCEES
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Email will be sent out to Engineering students
early January
Information session
◦ Speaker – Dr. Bart Sinclair
◦ January 18th 2012, 7:00-8:00 PM, Duncan Hall
◦ FE Exam Info Sheet
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Deadline to register
◦ February 23rd 2012
Exam Module
First-time takers
Repeat takers
Chemical
87%
46%
Civil
79%
42%
Electrical
71%
30%
Environmental
86%
41%
Industrial
71%
62%
Mechanical
81%
32%
Pass/Fail Results
Available 8-10 weeks after exam
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Prestige
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Career Development
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Authority
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Flexibility
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Money
◦ PEs are respected by the public and are seen in the same light as
licensed professionals in other fields.
◦ Licensure not only enhances your stature, it shows commitment to
the profession and demonstrates heightened leadership and
management skills.
◦ Only PEs can sign and seal engineering drawings; and only PEs can
be in responsible charge of a firm in private practice or serve as a
fully qualified expert witness.
◦ Have a PE license opens up your career options. You can become a
specialist, or establish your own business.
◦ Having your PE allows expanded opportunities beyond a company
structure - as an independent consultant for example.
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Accredited engineering degree
Complete (pass) FE exam
Experience under a licensed PE is
recommended
◦ Very helpful when submitting references
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4 years of active practice in engineering
◦ Design
◦ Analysis
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Complete (pass) PE exam
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Supplementary Experience Record (SER)
◦ Record of professional experience
◦ Document experience as you go
 Projects, Employers, Job title, Contacts, etc.
◦ Submitted with application
◦ Typically 6-12 pages in length
◦ “I designed…”, “I calculated…”, “I analyzed…”
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Submit 3 References (current PE’s)
◦ Familiar with your work
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Administered in April and October
8 hour duration ~ 2 sessions
Mechanical session
◦ HVAC and Refrigeration
◦ Mechanical Systems and Materials
◦ Thermal and Fluids Systems
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80 multiple-choice questions
◦ 40 in morning session (same for all mechanical)
◦ 40 in afternoon session (selected discipline)
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Open book
◦ Bring your own bounded reference material
A 20 ft length of 2 ½ in nominal diameter schedule
40 steel pipe full of water is simply supported.
What is most nearly the maximum pipe deflection?
(A) 0.18 in
(B) 0.45 in
(C) 0.50 in
(D) 0.61 in
Solution
Calculate mass, moment of inertia, & beam deflection.
Answer is C.
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PE Reference Manual
PE Practice Problems
Sample Examination
◦ Author: Michael R. Lindeburg, PE
Exam Module
First-time takers
Repeat takers
Chemical
78%
31%
Civil
69%
40%
Electrical
61%
28%
Environmental
60%
15%
Industrial
80%
44%
Mechanical
72%
39%
Pass/Fail Results
Available 8-10 weeks after exam
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CEP requires 15 PDH (Professional
Development Hours) per year
◦ At least 1 PDH of ethics
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Required annually to renew PE license
PDH activities
◦ Meetings
◦ Seminars
◦ Courses
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Keep documentation
◦ PE’s may be randomly audited