About the FE Exam

Quick Answer: The FE Other Disciplines exam is a 110-question, computer-based test from NCEES. The appointment is 6 hours total (8-minute tutorial + 5 hours 20 minutes of testing + a 25-minute scheduled break). It costs $175, runs year-round at Pearson VUE centers, and is open only to the searchable NCEES FE Reference Handbook. Passing earns the Engineer Intern (EI/EIT) designation — the required first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE).

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). It is the first of two exams on the U.S. licensure path; the second is the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam, taken after roughly four years of qualifying experience. This guide targets FE Other Disciplines, the general module for candidates whose degree does not match one of the discipline-specific FE exams.

Why the FE Matters

Exam Format at a Glance

Question Style: Beyond Plain Multiple Choice

Most items are four-option multiple choice, but the CBT also delivers alternative item types you should practice: multiple-correct (select all that apply), point-and-click (click a location on a figure), drag-and-drop (match or order items), and fill-in-the-blank (type a numeric answer). There is no penalty for guessing, so never leave an item blank.

The Seven FE Disciplines

NCEES publishes seven FE exams. Choose the one matching your degree; if none fits, take Other Disciplines.

What "Open Resource" Really Means

The FE is open only to the NCEES FE Reference Handbook, shown as a searchable PDF on a split screen beside the questions. You may not bring your own notes, books, or formula sheets. The Handbook supplies formulas, tables, charts, and constants but no worked examples and no solution steps — you must know which equation to apply and how. Some questions embed data not in the Handbook; read each one fully.

Eligibility

Requirements vary by state, but most boards let you sit for the FE if you:

• hold a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, or
• are in your final year of such a program, or
• hold a degree from a non-accredited program (some states add education/experience requirements), or
• have qualifying engineering work experience (varies widely by state).

Tip: Most candidates take the FE in their final semester or within 12 months of graduation, when coursework is freshest. Pass rates fall noticeably the longer you wait.

Exam-Day Timeline

Approved Calculators

NCEES permits only specific models; proctors inspect them at check-in.

No graphing, programmable-beyond-list, or phone calculators are allowed. Bring a permitted backup and spare batteries — a dead calculator costs you the exam.

Scoring and Results

The FE is pass/fail against a cut score set by psychometric standard-setting, not a fixed percentage; NCEES does not release the passing number and there is no curve against other candidates the same day. You pass by demonstrating minimum competence across the content areas. Results normally appear in your NCEES MyNCEES account within 7–10 days, after which you can claim the EI/EIT designation through your state board.