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Exam Review

Key Facts: FE Environmental Exam

110

Exam Questions

NCEES

5h 20m

Exam Duration

NCEES

$225

Exam Fee

NCEES 2026

~70%

First-Time Pass Rate

NCEES tables

15

Knowledge Areas

NCEES outline

200-300 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

FE Environmental has 110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time within a 6-hour appointment that also covers the tutorial and a 25-minute scheduled break. The $225 NCEES exam is computer-based at Pearson VUE and uses the on-screen NCEES FE Reference Handbook. First-time pass rates run roughly 67-74%. Plan 200-300 hours of study, with the heaviest weighting on water and wastewater (12-18 questions), fluid mechanics and hydraulics (12-18), and surface water resources and hydrology (9-14).

Sample FE Environmental Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the FE Environmental exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A linear regression of nitrate concentration (mg/L) versus time (years) gives slope b = 0.42 with standard error s_b = 0.10 and n = 22 data points. What is the t-statistic used to test whether the slope is significantly different from zero?
A.1.4
B.2.1
C.4.2
D.10.0
Explanation: The t-statistic is t = b / s_b = 0.42 / 0.10 = 4.2. With n - 2 = 20 degrees of freedom, |t| > 2.086 (two-tail, alpha = 0.05) so the slope is statistically significant. The t-test for a regression slope is in the FE Reference Handbook, Probability and Statistics section.
2The first-order decay rate constant for a contaminant is k = 0.23 day^-1. What is its half-life?
A.1.5 days
B.3.0 days
C.4.3 days
D.6.9 days
Explanation: For first-order decay, t_1/2 = ln(2)/k = 0.693/0.23 = 3.01 days. This formula appears under Reaction Kinetics and Environmental Engineering in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.
3Eight effluent total nitrogen samples (mg/L) yielded a sample mean of 12.4 with standard deviation 2.1. What is the 95% two-sided confidence interval for the population mean (use t_0.025,7 = 2.365)?
A.12.4 ± 0.74
B.12.4 ± 1.46
C.12.4 ± 1.76
D.12.4 ± 4.97
Explanation: The CI is x̄ ± t·(s/√n) = 12.4 ± 2.365·(2.1/√8) = 12.4 ± 2.365·0.7425 = 12.4 ± 1.76 mg/L. Use the Student's t since the population variance is unknown and n is small.
4A water quality test has a 5% false-positive rate. If five independent samples are analyzed and the true value is below detection, what is the probability that at least one sample reports a false positive?
A.0.050
B.0.226
C.0.250
D.0.774
Explanation: P(at least one) = 1 − (1 − 0.05)^5 = 1 − 0.7738 = 0.2262, about 22.6%. This applies the complement rule for independent Bernoulli trials.
5Lead concentrations in drinking water are log-normally distributed. Which transformation should be applied before computing a 95th percentile assuming a normal distribution?
A.Subtract the mean from each value
B.Take the natural log of each value
C.Take the square root of each value
D.Divide each value by the standard deviation
Explanation: If X is log-normal then ln(X) is normally distributed. After log-transformation you compute percentiles using the normal table and then exponentiate the result back to the original scale. Environmental concentration data are commonly log-normal.
6Using the trapezoidal rule with two equal intervals, estimate the integral of f(x) from x = 0 to x = 4 if f(0) = 2, f(2) = 5, f(4) = 11.
A.18
B.23
C.27
D.32
Explanation: Trapezoidal rule: I = (h/2)[f0 + 2 f1 + f2] = (2/2)[2 + 2(5) + 11] = 1·23 = 23. The width h = 2 between successive x values.
7Daily flows to a wastewater plant are approximately normal with mean 12.0 MGD and standard deviation 1.5 MGD. What is the probability that flow on a randomly chosen day exceeds 14.0 MGD?
A.About 9%
B.About 16%
C.About 25%
D.About 33%
Explanation: z = (14 − 12)/1.5 = 1.33. P(Z > 1.33) ≈ 0.0918, about 9%. This kind of design-storm or peak-flow check uses the standard normal table in the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.
8Solve dC/dt = -kC for C(t) given C(0) = C0.
A.C(t) = C0 + kt
B.C(t) = C0 e^(kt)
C.C(t) = C0 e^(-kt)
D.C(t) = C0 (1 − kt)
Explanation: First-order linear ODE: separate variables to get dC/C = -k dt; integrating yields ln(C/C0) = -kt, so C(t) = C0 e^(-kt). This is the foundation of BOD decay, radioactive decay, and reactor concentration solutions.
9Chloride concentration in a river was measured monthly for one year. Which statistic best describes the typical concentration when one extreme outlier is present?
A.Arithmetic mean
B.Median
C.Range
D.Variance
Explanation: The median is robust to outliers because it depends only on rank order, while the mean is pulled toward extreme values. Environmental data with rare spikes are typically reported using the median plus an interquartile range.
10A Poisson process produces an average of 3 fish kills per decade in a watershed. What is the probability of exactly 5 fish kills in the next decade?
A.0.050
B.0.101
C.0.168
D.0.224
Explanation: P(X = 5) = e^(-λ) λ^5 / 5! with λ = 3: e^(-3) (3^5)/120 = 0.04979 · 243/120 = 0.04979 · 2.025 = 0.1008, about 10.1%.

About the FE Environmental Exam

The FE Environmental exam is one of seven NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exams and the first step toward Professional Engineer (PE) licensure for environmental engineers. The 110-question computer-based test covers 15 knowledge areas, led by fluid mechanics and hydraulics, water and wastewater, and surface water resources and hydrology, plus air quality, solid and hazardous waste, and health hazards and risk assessment. The exam is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE test centers using an on-screen searchable NCEES FE Reference Handbook.

Exam sponsor: NCEES (Pearson VUE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

110 questions

Time Limit

5 hours 20 minutes

Passing Score

Scaled (NCEES does not publish a fixed cut score)

Exam / Certification Fees

$225

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: ~70%. FE Environmental first-time pass rate typically 67-74% (NCEES pass-rate tables) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

5-8 Q

Mathematics

Analytic geometry and trigonometry, algebraic equations, calculus, and numerical methods

4-6 Q

Probability and Statistics

Central tendency and dispersion, probability distributions, estimation, regression and curve fitting, and hypothesis testing

5-8 Q

Ethics and Professional Practice

Codes of ethics, public health and safety, compliance with codes and regulations (CWA, CAA, RCRA, CERCLA, SDWA, NEPA, OSHA), and the engineer's role in society

5-8 Q

Engineering Economics

Time value of money, cost types, risk identification, and project selection

7-11 Q

Fundamental Principles

Population projections and demand calculations, reactors, and materials science including corrosion

7-11 Q

Environmental Chemistry

Stoichiometry and reactions, kinetics, organic chemistry, and multimedia equilibrium partitioning

4-6 Q

Health Hazards and Risk Assessment

Dose-response toxicity, exposure routes and pathways, and occupational health

12-18 Q

Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics

Fluid statics, closed conduits, open channels, pumps, flow measurement, blowers, fluid dynamics, and steady and unsteady flow

3-5 Q

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamic laws, energy, heat and work, and ideal gases

9-14 Q

Surface Water Resources and Hydrology

Runoff calculations, water storage sizing, routing, water quality and modeling, and water budget

8-12 Q

Groundwater, Soils, and Sediments

Basic hydrogeology, groundwater flow, drawdown (Dupuit, Jacob, Theis, Thiem), and remediation

12-18 Q

Water and Wastewater

Water and wastewater characteristics, mass balance and loading rates, physical, chemical and biological processes, sludge treatment, and water conservation and reuse

8-12 Q

Air Quality and Control

Ambient and indoor air quality, mass and energy balances, emissions, atmospheric modeling, and gas and particle treatment technologies

7-11 Q

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Mass and energy balances, solid waste management and disposal, hazardous waste compatibility, site characterization, and hazardous and radioactive waste treatment

4-6 Q

Energy and Environment

Energy source concepts and the environmental impact of energy sources and production

Preparing for the FE Environmental Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scaled (NCEES does not publish a fixed cut score)
  • Exam length: 110 questions
  • Time limit: 5 hours 20 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: $225 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

FE Environmental: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the NCEES FE Reference Handbook — every exam formula is in the PDF, so practice locating each one quickly
2Distribute study time by NCEES weighting: water and wastewater (12-18 questions), fluid mechanics and hydraulics (12-18), and surface water resources and hydrology (9-14) deserve the most hours
3Drill BOD kinetics, Streeter-Phelps DO sag, activated-sludge SRT/F:M, and CSTR vs PFR reactor design — they show up every exam
4Memorize core EPA regulatory thresholds: NAAQS PM2.5 = 9 µg/m³ (2024), PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4 ng/L (2024), TTHM MCL = 0.080 mg/L, lead AL = 10 µg/L (LCRI 2024)
5Practice with an NCEES-approved calculator (Casio FX-115 or TI-36X) so you do not lose time on exam day
6Review RCRA listings (F/K/P/U), TCLP D-codes, Subtitle C double-liner specs, and the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest workflow
7Solve at least 200 timed practice questions before scheduling — averaging about 3 minutes per question
8Review NCEES Model Rules, hierarchy of controls, OSHA noise dose, and the EPA risk paradigm (RfD, slope factor, HQ, target risk 10^-6 to 10^-4)
9Take the official NCEES FE Environmental practice exam in the final two weeks — the format mimics the real CBT interface
10Build a one-page formula cheat sheet of equations the handbook hides under multiple tabs (Streeter-Phelps, Darcy, Theis, Briggs plume rise)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is on the FE Environmental exam?

The FE Environmental exam covers 15 NCEES knowledge areas: mathematics; probability and statistics; ethics and professional practice; engineering economics; fundamental principles; environmental chemistry; health hazards and risk assessment; fluid mechanics and hydraulics; thermodynamics; surface water resources and hydrology; groundwater, soils, and sediments; water and wastewater; air quality and control; solid and hazardous waste; and energy and environment. Question counts per area come from the NCEES specification (e.g., 12-18 questions on water and wastewater).

How long is the FE Environmental exam, and how much does it cost?

FE Environmental is a 110-question computer-based test delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. The appointment is 6 hours: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time and a 25-minute scheduled break. The NCEES exam fee is $225; some state boards add an application fee.

Can I use a calculator on the FE Environmental exam?

NCEES allows only specific calculator models: HP 33s/35s, Casio FX-115 series, and TI-30X/TI-36X series. An on-screen scientific calculator is also available. Bring backups; non-approved calculators will be confiscated at check-in.

What is the FE Environmental pass rate and how should I prepare?

First-time pass rates published by NCEES run roughly 67-74% in recent years. Plan 200-300 hours of study spread over 8-16 weeks. The single most important resource is the NCEES FE Reference Handbook — every formula on the exam is in that PDF, so you must know where each one lives.

Is FE Environmental harder than FE Civil?

The difficulty depends on background. FE Civil is broader in structures/transportation; FE Environmental is heavier on chemistry, biology, and air quality. Pass rates are comparable. Choose the discipline matching your degree, since you may select any FE discipline regardless of which PE you eventually take.

What 2026 EPA regulations should I know for FE Environmental?

Recent updates worth knowing: the 2024 PFAS NPDWR (MCLs of 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS), the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (10-year LSL replacement; 10 µg/L action level), the 2024 PM2.5 NAAQS (annual primary 9 µg/m³), and EPA's 2024 methane standards for oil and gas (NSPS OOOOb/c). Congress voided EPA's 2024 Waste Emissions Charge rule in March 2025 (Public Law 119-2).