Purdue Prepares you to Ace the FE Exam

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For some engineering disciplines, the one step you have to take before you can foster change as an engineer is passing the fundaments of engineering (FE) exam.



So, what is the FE Exam?

The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE exam) is an exam that allows a student to become an Engineer-In-Training (EIT). Since much of the information on the exam is covered in the first three years of college, many engineering students choose to take the exam during their final year of college.

The FE exam is also the beginning of the path towards becoming a Professional Engineer (PE); after completing four years of professional engineering work experience (or less if you obtain a Masters or PhD) under a licensed PE, an EIT can then sit for the PE exam and become a PE, if they pass the PE exam. 

 

Who should take the FE Exam?

Becoming an EIT or PE is not required for all types of engineering or engineering positions but can provide added benefits. In addition to all civil engineers, some mechanical, biological, electrical, chemical, and environmental engineers take the FE exam as well.

The FE exam varies based on the engineering discipline and is tailored to the coursework studied for that discipline. For example, a student in mechanical engineering takes the mechanical engineering FE exam whereas a student in environmental engineering would take the environmental FE exam.


What’s the FE Exam Format?

The FE exam is a 6-hour computer-based exam covering topics ranging from mathematics, probability and statistics, ethics, and engineering economics, and discipline-specific subjects. The grading for the exam is pass/fail.



What does Purdue do to help you prep for the FE exam?

          Purdue classes cover a very large percentage of the FE exam material. Thus, in students’ senior year at Purdue, they will have learned the large majority, if not all, of the information covered on the FE exam for their engineering discipline.

Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil Engineering’s Chapter of Chi Epsilon Honors Society hosts an FE Info night, which provides students with information on the civil FE Exam content, registration, review materials, and lastly how to apply to become a registered EIT. Additionally, Chi Epsilon hosts several review sessions throughout the year for civil engineering students that cover the different discipline subjects specific to civil engineering. During each of these weekly review sessions, a packet with 4-6 questions related to the concentration (i.e. structures, hydraulics, transportation, etc.) are prepared and a copy of the worked-out solutions is attached. Additionally, 3-4 questions related to mathematics and ethics may also be added.


What’s so special about Purdue’s preparation?

Purdue engineers have exceptionally high pass rates associated with the FE exam compared to the national pass rate. During the 2013-2014 school year, 392 Purdue students took the FE exam and 93.3% of those students passed the exam compared to the national pass rate of 77.1%. More recently, the Purdue Society of Professional Engineers reported that Purdue engineering students who study the FE Review Manual for 8 hours and take the FE exam during their final year at Purdue has a pass rate around 90%.  


Simply put, many boilermakers begin their journey to change the world by passing their FE Exam and becoming an EIT. With the many supports in place, as a junior in civil engineering here at Purdue, I feel very confident as I begin to prep for the civil engineering FE exam.

Whether you’re beginning your college search, navigating your first year, or choosing your engineering major, it’s important to start thinking about where your future career path might take you. If you know you have to take the FE Exam or even if you aren’t sure yet, Purdue will provide you with all of the information and prep to help you make the best decision and ace the exam.

Want more information on the FE exam? Check out the following resources:
https://ncees.org/engineering/fe/
https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Academics/FE_FS_Exams
https://purduepspe.com/fe/   


JT Sarisky, Civil Engineering '22

WE Link Leadership Team


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