FE Exam Fundamentals
W. J. Wilson
Dept of Engineering & Physics
University of Central Oklahoma
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BENEFITS OF BECOMING A PE
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Stamp and seal designs
Bid for government contracts
Be principal of a firm
Perform consulting engineering services
Offer engineering services to the public
Additional Employment Opportunities
Increased Job Security
Promotion / Career Advancement
Added Respect / Self-Satisfaction
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PE Licensure Process
1. Earn a degree from an ABET-accredited
engineering program.
2. Pass the FE exam.
3. Gain acceptable work experience (typically a
minimum of four years). In most cases, this must
be completed under the supervision of a P.E.
4. Pass the PE exam in the appropriate discipline.
5. PE License Awarded
6. Continuing Education and Professional
Development Hours (PDH) - Typically, 30 PDH
every two years
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State Regs for Becoming a P.E.
• Governed by State Registration Board of
each state and U.S. territory
• Specific requirements vary by State, but
virtually all require passing FE and PE
exams
• Continuing Education and Professional
Development Hours (PDH) to maintain PE
license
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“Typical” State Requirements
• Graduate from an ABET-accredited
engineering program
• Pass FE exam
• Obtain four to six years of applicable
engineering experience
• Pass PE Exam
• Ability to apply for and obtain licensure in
other states by reciprocity
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FE Exam Administration
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering
and Surveying (NCEES) is the exam administrator.
Volunteers from all over the U.S. help write exam
questions.
NCEES Address:
National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying
280 Seneca Creek Road
Seneca, SC 29678
Tel: 800-250-3196
Web: www.ncees.org
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Oklahoma FE Exam
Administration & Registration
Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional
Engineers and Land Surveyors
Address:
Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional
Engineers and Land Surveyors
Oklahoma Engineering Center, Room 120
201 NE 27th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Tel: (405) 521-2874
Web: www.pels.ok.gov
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How do I register for the FE
Exam?
1. Apply to the Oklahoma State Board of
Licensure for Professional Engineers and
Land Surveyors for approval to sit for the
exam in Oklahoma.
2. After the board has notified you of your
approval, register online with NCEES to
register for the exam.
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When Can I Take the FE Exam?
FE exam is given twice each year. Application
deadline and exam date varies slightly from year to
year but exam is usually in October and April.
FE Exam Date
Application Deadline
Oct 29-30, 2010
August 1, 2010
(Deadline has Passed)
April 8-9, 2011
February 1, 2011
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Where Can I Take the Exam?
Location
Exams Offered
University of Central Oklahoma
FE, PE, FS, PS
Oklahoma State University (Current
Students Only)
FE
University of Oklahoma
(Current Students Only)
FE
University of Tulsa
(Current Students Only)
FE
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How Much Does it COST?
EXAM
COST
FE
Application Fee $25
Exam Fee
$55
PE
Application Fee $100
Exam Fee
$195
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What to Expect on the FE Exam
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8 Hours long
AM and PM Sessions (Each 4 hours)
Multiple Choice Format
Is a test of Engineering Fundamentals
Given twice per year
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FORMAT
• Morning (AM) Part
– 120 questions in 4 hours, 2 minutes per question
– General subjects covered in the lower division courses
– The morning session is the same for everyone
• Afternoon (PM) Part
– 60 questions in 4 hours, 4 minutes per question
– Concepts covered in the upper division courses
– Choice of discipline specific exam in Chemical, Civil,
Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical,
Other Disciplines
– Other Disciplines exam is a general exam similar to
the one in the morning. This is intended for students
who do not fall under any of the disciplines covered in
the other discipline speific exams
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AM Part - General Subjects
Area
Mathematics
Engineering Probability & Statistics
Chemistry
Computers
Ethics and Business Practices
Engineering Economics
Statics and Dynamics
Strength of Materials
Materials Properties
Fluid Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism
Thermodynamics
# of Questions
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11
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13
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8
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PM Part
Choose One Discipline Specific Exam from
– Chemical
– Civil
– Industrial
– Electrical
– Mechanical
– Other Disciplines (General)
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PM Part - Other Disciplines
(General)
Area
# of Questions
Advanced Engineering Mathematics
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Engineering Probability and Statistics
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Biology
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Engineering Economics
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Application of Engineering Mechanics
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Engineering of Materials
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Fluids
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Electricity and Magnetism
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Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
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PM Part - ME Discipline Specific
Area
Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Engineering Probability and Statistics
Chemistry
Computers
Engineering Ethics
Engineering Economics
Application of Engineering Mechanics
Strengths of Materials
Engineering of Materials
Fluid Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism
Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
# of Questions
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4
5
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4
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PM Part - EE Discipline Specific
Area
Circuits
Power
Electromagnetics
Control Systems
Communications
Signal Processing
Electronics
Digital Systems
Computer Systems
# of Questions
10
8
4
6
5
5
9
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EXAM Scoring
Morning part - 1 point each question
Afternoon part - 2 points each question
Raw score is 240 points
From exam history, a raw passing score is not
70% of the total 240 points, but ~50-55%
• Raw passing score is scaled to 70.
• Raw passing score in the past has been roughly
50-60%, but may be higher
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Pass Rate for FE Exam
• Must make adjusted score 70% or better
• Diagnostics are applied
– Unfair problems are eliminated
– Possibility of multiple correct answers
– Score determined after “bad” problems are
eliminated
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2010 FE Exam Pass Rates
Engr Major
First Attempt
Biomedical
81%
Chemical
79%
Civil
70%
Electrical
61%
Industrial
69%
Mechanical
84%
Engineering Physics 80%
Average Pass
~70%
Repeat
33%
41%
29%
24%
33%
41%
18%
~30%
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On Exam Day
• Arrive about 15-30 minutes early
• Do bring calculator and spare battery
• Do bring number 2 pencils (mechanical HB
works best)
• Do dress comfortably (layer)
• Do not bring scratch paper
• Do not bring reference book
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What to Bring to the FE Exam
For admission, you must bring:
– Your exam authorization notice. In most cases, this
will be available for download via your My NCEES
account 2–3 weeks prior to the exam date. A few
states will mail authorization notices to your
physical address. Check your state’s registration
page for details.
– A current, signed, government-issued photo
identification. This is typically a driver’s license or
passport. The first and last name on the photo ID
must match the name on the exam authorization
notice. Note that a student ID card is not
acceptable for admittance.
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Approved Calculators
• To help protect exam content, NCEES
only allows candidates to use certain
calculator models. Candidates who are
found using unapproved calculators
after the exam has begun will be
dismissed from the exam site.
– Casio fx-115
– HP 33s, HP 35s
– TI-30X, TI-36X
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How to Prepare for the FE
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Take the exam seriously
Spend some time reviewing for the exam
Study review books
Take some sample exams available from
NCEES or various review books
– Determine your areas of strength (and weakness)
– Set a goal of 60% correct on sample exams
(Remember passing raw score is ~50% =120/240)
• Attend review sessions / Online videos
• Familiarize yourself with the FE SuppliedReference Handbook
• Get a good night’s sleep before the exam
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How to take the FE Exam
• Start with questions in subject areas you are
strongest in and work questions you are weakest
in last
• Do not spend more than 3 minutes on a question
(AM Exam) or 5 minutes on a question (PM
Exam). Unless you are on the verge of a solution!
• About 15 minutes from end, stop and go back over
questions that you have marked with ?
• About 5 minutes from end, mark all questions you
have have not answered yet by random guess.
There is no penalty for guessing.
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Strategies for Taking the FE
Exam
• Watch the clock, time limits are strictly
enforced
• Average of 2 minutes/problem in the AM
• Average of 4 minutes/problem in the PM
• Attack the areas you know best, first
• Save difficult problems for last
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Strategies for Taking the FE
Exam
• Think before you start a problem
• Is there an easy way to work this?
• If you don’t know the correct answer,
eliminate some incorrect answers
• Are any of the answers obviously wrong?
• Now, can you work backwards?
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Strategies for Taking the FE
Exam
• Make your best guess (may be your first guess),
Mark with a “?” and come back to it
• Make notes and best guess before moving on to
the next question
• Answer each question
– There is no penalty for an incorrect answer
– Your score is based on number of correct answers
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Handling Difficult Problems
• If you have no clue at all:
– Make your best guess
– Circle the problem number (or identify it some
other way) to indicate you have no clue
– Come back to these problems only if have
more time
• Never leave a question unanswered
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Saving Time
• Write the letter of the correct answer in the
margin on the test booklet
• At the end of the page, transcribe the
answers to the answer sheet
• Do this one page at a time.
• Do not do this for the entire exam and then
attempt to transfer the answers
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Units
• In the morning some problems are given in
both SI and US units
– Work what you are most comfortable with
• Most afternoon exams will be SI only so be
prepared
– Civil exam uses both sets of units for some
topic areas
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Terminology
• Not everyone uses the same terminology
• Try to be familiar with other nomenclature
• Focus on the problem; do you know it by
another name?
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Reference Manual
• Be familiar with its organization
• Where are your most frequently used
equations?
• What data will you use the most?
• Not necessarily a good idea to study by the
reference manual
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Work Out Of Sequence
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Problems tend to be grouped in sections
Work what you know best, first
Save the most difficult for last
If you don’t know it, guess
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Write Out the Problem
• Work in the test booklet
• Solving problems in your head may not be
the fastest way
• Make sure you record your answer on the
answer sheet—graders do not look at your
test booklet
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What If You Do Not Pass?
• Take it again
– Exam is offered twice a year
– Review and study for the next time
• No adverse information is placed on your
record
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I’m not going to work in
Oklahoma when I graduate,
should I wait to take the
exam in another state?
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No!
The FE is a national exam and your score
can be reported to any state in which you
wish to become registered. Not taking the
exam now will only make it more difficult for
you in the future.
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