Definition
The term Fundamentals of Engineering Exam refers to the first step in a process that candidates will go through as they pursue their professional engineering license. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, or FE Exam, is sponsored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The exam is designed for students that are close to, or have completed, an undergraduate engineering program.
Explanation
The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, or FE Exam, is the first step graduating students will take towards receiving their Professional Engineer license. The examination is a computer-based test which is offered in centers throughout the year. Examinees are given five hours and 20 minutes to complete 110 multiple choice questions.
The test is offered in a total of seven subject areas, including:
Chemical Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, engineering sciences, computational tools, material sciences, chemistry, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, energy balances, heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical reaction engineering, process design and economics, process control, safety, and ethics.
Civil Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, computational tools, ethics, engineering economics, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, hydraulics and systems, structural analysis, structural design, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, construction, and surveying
Electrical and Computer Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, ethics, engineering economics, properties of electrical materials, engineering sciences, circuit analysis, linear systems, signal processing, electronics, power, electromagnetics, control systems, communications, computer networks, digital systems, computer systems, and software development.
Environmental Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, ethics, engineering economics, material science, environmental science and chemistry, risk assessment, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, water resources, mass and energy balances, air quality, solid and hazardous waste, groundwater and soils.
Industrial Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, engineering sciences, engineering economics, probabilities and statistics, modeling and computations, industrial management, manufacturing, production and service systems, facilities and logistics, human factors and safety, work design, quality, and systems engineering.
Mechanical Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, computational tools, ethics, engineering economics, electricity and magnetism, statics, dynamics, kinematics, vibrations, mechanics of materials, material properties and processing fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, measurement, instrumentation and controls, mechanical design and analysis.
Other Engineering: contains questions on topics such as mathematics, probabilities and statistics, chemistry, ethics, health and safety, engineering economics, statics, dynamics, strength and materials, material science, fluid dynamics, dynamics of liquids, fluid mechanics, dynamics of gases, electricity, power, magnetism, heat, mass, and energy transfer.
Results of the FE Exam are available seven to ten days following the completion of the test. First-time pass rates range from 70 to 80%; however, pass rates for repeat-takers range from 20 to 50%.