The Volgenau School of Information
Technology and Engineering
Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering Department
Science and Technology II, Room 109, MSN 6C1
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
703-993-1675 (voice)
703-993-9790 (fax)
http://www.civil.gmu.edu
Date: July 25, 2013
From: Mohan Venigalla
CEIE, MSN 6C1
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Subj:
Applying and Preparing for Fundamentals of Engineering
Examination
To all seniors in engineering programs (CEIE, SE and ECE)
Dean Ball, Dean Nash, Dean Carabello, your department chairs and the faculty encourage you to
take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination BEFORE you graduate from GMU. Those
of you who are graduating during or before December 2013 may appear for the FE Examination on
October 26, 2013 (Saturday).
First of all, please do not even think of appearing for this exam unless you are well prepared.
If you are well prepared or have a plan for preparing for the exam, there is still time to apply for this
examination. Application material for Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination can be
obtained at VA DPOR Website:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Boards/APELS/0420des.pdf
Note this important requirement: Beginning June 6, 2010 all student applicants for the EIT
designation by exam are required to create an account with NCEES and obtain an identification
number by visiting www.ncees.org. The ID number is required of anyone taking any NCEES exam.
In addition to obtaining the ID number, each applicant must also register with NCEES for the
upcoming FE exam. The acquisition of the ID number and registration with NCEES must be
complete before an applicant can register with PCS, the exam vendor. Although the NCEES ID
number is only obtained once, registration with NCEES must occur each time an applicant intends
to sit for an exam.
1. Important dates if you are applying for the 26 October 2013 Exam:

Immediately: Exam registration with NCEES should be completed
(https://apps.ncees.org/emsLogin/)

10 AM, August 15, 2013 (Thursday) – Your EIT designation application is due
with the CEIE Department (ENGR Building Suite 1300);

August 15, 2013 – The School processes the applications and transmits a letter of
good standing to DPOR for those who are eligible to take the exam in October 2013.
Applications received by DPOR that are incomplete as of August 15, 2013, will
not be eligible to sit for the October 2013 exam. If your complete application is
submitted after this date and in time for Oct exam, your application will
automatically be deferred to the Aug 2013, examination.

Circa August 25, 2013: Exam registration with Professional Credential Services
(PCS) must be completed by this date. The form can be downloaded from this site.
https://www.pcshq.com/?page=engineeringandrelatedfields,VA-fe
2. The CEIE Department needs the following to process your application (on or before 10AM
on Aug 15, 2013)

Again, the Application for Engineer in Training (EIT) designation form can be
downloaded at:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Boards/APEL
S/0420des.pdf ; You need to fill EIT Form sign it and bring it to me (ENGR 1300)
before the specified time. Attach a $30 check written to The Treasurer of Virginia.
Don't write the check in my name and don’t forget to sign the application.

The Department needs to verify your eligibility to the examination. For this, please
provide us with a printed copy of your degree progress report from GMU Patriot
Web. Without printed copies of your degree progress/transcript, applications will
not be process.

If you have any criminal record, you will need to submit supporting documentation
to DPOR. (The Department doesn’t need this information. However, it is prudent to
send all the necessary information in one package.)

NO OTHER FORMS ARE REQUIRED (ignore other forms – reference form etc,
listed on the DPOR website)
FAQ:

Q: I already graduated from GMU, can I still apply through this process?
A: Absolutely not. This process is for CURRENTLY registered students only.

Q: I heard the examination format and frequency is changing from 2014. How will that
affect my application? Will I be better off taking the exam 2014 or later with the new
format?

A: Yes. The FE exam is changing. If you apply now and not take the exam or don’t
pass the exam in October 2013, you are still a candidate for EIT designation and you
can take the exam in the new format. The new format has fewer subjects to study than
the current format. For more information, check out http://NCEES.org

Q: I am a graduate student (MS or Ph.D.) in a Mason Engineering program. Can I apply
using this process?
A: Yes, you are eligible to apply via this process. However, your eligibility for appear for
the FE exam is purely dependent on your BS degree. DPOR will make this eligibility
requirement. If your BS degree is in and ABET accredited engineering program, typically
you will be eligible. In the past DPOR has declined students with BS degree from a foreign
institution or those with a non-ABET program. We are not very sure about the consistency
of this process at DPOR.

Q: What about the June (for Oct exam) and Dec (for April exam) deadline that I missed?
A: As long as you are currently registered in an Engineering program at Mason with 90+
credit hours completed towards your degree; and a graduate students in any engineering
program, you are eligible to apply this process and you can bypass that June/Dec general
deadline

Q: I am a current GMU graduate student in CEIE, SE, ECE or CE Department. Am I eligible
to apply through this process?
A: Yes. This process is for CURRENTLY registered graduate engineering students, who
are otherwise eligible for taking the FE examination.

Q: I already graduated from GMU how can I get a recommendation form?
A: Talk to one of the professors who knows you well. He/she will be glad to help you..

Q: I already graduated from GMU, how can I get the degree verification form?
A: This is typically done by the Office of Registrar. However, your transcript can serve as
degree verification. A less authentic way to do it is seek a letter from your home department.
Other Questions?
Please contact me at mvenigal@gmu.edu; (703) 993-1630
Mohan Venigalla, Ph.D., PE
Associate Professor
Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering Department, MSN 6C1
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
(703) 993-1630