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Key Facts: FE Chemical Exam
110
Exam Questions
NCEES FE Chemical CBT specs
5h 20m
Exam Time
NCEES
$225
Exam Fee
NCEES
~68%
First-Time Pass Rate
NCEES discipline data
16
Knowledge Areas
FE Chemical CBT specs
v10.6
FE Reference Handbook
NCEES (2025)
FE Chemical is a 110-question CBT delivered in a 6-hour appointment (5h 20m of testing plus tutorial and an optional 25-minute break). The $225 NCEES fee is paid at registration and the exam is administered at Pearson VUE test centers. The current July 2020 specifications remain in effect for 2026, and candidates work from the on-screen FE Reference Handbook v10.6. Heaviest content blocks include Mathematics, Chemistry, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Material/Energy Balances, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer/Separation, Reaction Engineering, and Process Design/Economics at 8-12 questions each.
Sample FE Chemical Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FE Chemical exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Evaluate the indefinite integral of (3x^2 + 2x - 5) dx.
2A first-order ODE dy/dx = ky has y(0) = 100. If k = -0.05 min^-1, what is y at x = 20 min?
3Use the Newton-Raphson method to perform one iteration on f(x) = x^2 - 5 starting from x0 = 2. What is x1?
4What is the Laplace transform of f(t) = e^(-3t)?
5Given two equations: 2x + y = 7 and x - y = 2, solve for x.
6A measurement is 12.345 g with uncertainty +/- 0.01 g. How many significant figures should be reported?
7A quality engineer collects 30 viscosity readings with mean 50 cP and sample standard deviation 4 cP. What is the 95% confidence interval for the population mean (use z = 1.96)?
8A continuous reactor produces 5% off-spec product. In a random sample of 4 batches, what is the probability that exactly 1 is off-spec? (binomial distribution)
9An x-bar control chart uses 3-sigma limits. Sigma of the process is 2.0 and the target mean is 100. What are the upper and lower control limits for samples of size n = 4?
10Two events A and B are independent with P(A) = 0.3 and P(B) = 0.4. What is P(A and B)?
About the FE Chemical Exam
The NCEES FE Chemical exam is the discipline-specific Fundamentals of Engineering exam for chemical engineers pursuing Engineer Intern (EI/EIT) status and, ultimately, the PE Chemical license. The current July 2020 CBT specifications cover 16 knowledge areas spanning math, engineering sciences, computational tools, chemistry, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, material/energy balances, heat and mass transfer, reaction engineering, process design and economics, process control, safety, and ethics. The exam is closed-book except for the on-screen NCEES FE Reference Handbook (v10.6, effective 2025).
Assessment
110 computer-based questions with the on-screen NCEES FE Reference Handbook (v10.6)
Time Limit
5 hours 20 minutes
Passing Score
Scaled cut score (NCEES does not publish a fixed percentage)
Exam Fee
$225 (NCEES (Pearson VUE))
FE Chemical Exam Content Outline
Mathematics
Analytic geometry, calculus, differential equations, numerical methods (Newton-Raphson, Taylor series), linear algebra, accuracy/precision, significant figures.
Probability and Statistics
Discrete and continuous distributions, expected value, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, central tendency, regression, control charts.
Engineering Sciences
Basic dynamics (force, mass, momentum), work-energy-power, electricity and circuits (Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws).
Computational Tools
Spreadsheets, equation solvers, numerical methods, and data analysis workflows for chemical engineering calculations.
Materials Science
Chemical/electrical/mechanical/physical properties, ferrous/nonferrous metals, corrosion mechanisms and control, polymers, ceramics, composites.
Chemistry
Inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry including molarity, pH/pK, redox, electrochemistry, and reaction fundamentals.
Fluid Mechanics/Dynamics
Fluid properties, Reynolds number, mechanical energy balance, Bernoulli, laminar/turbulent flow, pumps and compressors, flow measurement, compressible and non-Newtonian flow.
Thermodynamics
Pure-component and mixture properties, steam tables, T-s/P-h/x-y diagrams, first/second laws, cycles (power, refrigeration, heat pump), phase and chemical equilibrium, heats of reaction.
Material/Energy Balances
Steady- and unsteady-state mass balances, energy balances, recycle/bypass, reactive systems, combustion calculations.
Heat Transfer
Conduction (Fourier law), convection (natural and forced, Nusselt correlations), radiation, overall U, fouling, heat-exchanger design (LMTD, NTU, double-pipe, shell-and-tube).
Mass Transfer and Separation
Molecular diffusion, convective mass transfer, distillation, absorption, extraction, membranes, McCabe-Thiele equilibrium-stage methods, NTU/HETP/HTU.
Chemical Reaction Engineering
Rate laws and order, Arrhenius rate constant, conversion/yield/selectivity, batch/CSTR/PFR/semi-batch design, series and parallel reactions, catalysis.
Process Design and Economics
PFDs and P&IDs, equipment selection and scale-up, cost estimation with cost indices, sustainability, inherently safer design, time value of money, break-even, depreciation, and project comparison.
Process Control
First- and second-order dynamics, gains and time constants, transfer functions, stability, PID tuning, feedback/feedforward/cascade/ratio, sensors, control valves, DCS/PLC.
Safety, Health, and Environment
SDS hazards (flammability/LFL-UFL, toxicity), industrial hygiene, HAZOP and LOPA, fault/event-tree analysis, relief and overpressure, RCRA/CWA/EPA waste rules, runaway-reaction control.
Ethics and Professional Practice
NCEES Model Rules, codes of ethics, contracts and NDAs, public health and welfare obligations, intellectual property (patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright).
How to Pass the FE Chemical Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled cut score (NCEES does not publish a fixed percentage)
- Assessment: 110 computer-based questions with the on-screen NCEES FE Reference Handbook (v10.6)
- Time limit: 5 hours 20 minutes
- Exam fee: $225
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FE Chemical Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FE Chemical exam pass rate in 2026?
NCEES reports first-time pass rates around 68% for FE Chemical, making it one of the higher-passing FE disciplines. Repeat-taker pass rates are lower. Pass rates are scaled, not percentage-based, so NCEES does not publish a fixed cut score.
How long is the FE Chemical exam?
The exam itself is 5 hours and 20 minutes long, but the total Pearson VUE appointment is 6 hours. That includes an 8-minute tutorial, the testing window, and an optional 25-minute scheduled break that does not count against your test time.
Which FE Reference Handbook version is used in 2026?
NCEES is using FE Reference Handbook version 10.6 in 2026 (released July 2025). The handbook is delivered as a searchable PDF on-screen during the exam. Practice with the same version you will see on test day - formula locations and notation differ slightly from earlier editions.
What does the FE Chemical exam cost?
The NCEES exam fee is $225, paid directly to NCEES at registration. Some state boards charge an additional application fee on top of the NCEES fee, and a few jurisdictions require board pre-approval before you can register. The $225 is also the retake fee per attempt.
What calculator is allowed on the FE Chemical exam?
Only NCEES-approved models: Casio FX-115 series, Hewlett Packard HP 33s and HP 35s, and Texas Instruments TI-30X and TI-36X series. An on-screen calculator is also provided at the test center. Personal smartphones, laptops, and reference books are not permitted.
What are the heaviest topics on FE Chemical?
NCEES gives several core domains 8-12 questions each: Mathematics, Chemistry, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Material/Energy Balances, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer/Separation, Chemical Reaction Engineering, and Process Design/Economics. Together, these blocks should anchor your study plan.