Engineering / FE Exam
- NCEES
- Engineering licensure exam
- Computer-based
- Updated Oct 2026
FE Exam: Cost, Format, Passing Score and How to Register
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the NCEES exam that is generally your first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer. It is taken mainly by recent graduates and students close to finishing an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from NCEES requirements
Exam fee
$225
Paid directly to NCEES for each attempt
Exam length
5 hr 20 min
Exam time only. Tutorial, nondisclosure agreement and a 25-minute break are extra
Questions
110
Same count for every discipline
Passing score
Not stated
NCEES reports pass or fail only and doesn’t publish the passing score
Overview
What is the FE exam?
The FE is a computer-based exam from NCEES (the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying). NCEES describes it as generally your first step in the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer (P.E.). You choose one discipline exam when you register: Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Computer, Environmental, Industrial and Systems, Mechanical, or Other Disciplines.
Who takes it
- Recent graduates of EAC/ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs
- Students close to finishing an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering degree
- Anyone a state licensing board has approved to sit for the exam on the path to P.E. licensure
Who doesn’t need it
- Anyone your licensing board doesn’t require to take it. Eligibility is set by each licensing board, so check yours first
The FE doesn’t make you a licensed engineer
NCEES calls the FE generally your first step toward the P.E. license. Your licensing board decides who may sit for the exam and what comes next, so confirm its rules before you register.
Before you sit
The FE exam, one page
- Confirm your licensing board’s approval steps
- Register in MyNCEES with your name exactly as on your ID
- Pay the $225 fee and wait for your authorization notice
- Schedule at a Pearson center within 12 months
- Bring a current physical photo ID and one approved calculator
- Arrive 30 minutes early
Eligibility
Who can take the FE exam?
NCEES says eligibility to sit for its exams varies and is decided by each licensing board. It is your job to check your board’s requirements before you register.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education | NCEES designs the FE for recent graduates and students near finishing an EAC/ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering degree. Your board sets its own rule |
| Licensing board approval | Some boards require a separate application, and sometimes a fee, before NCEES lets you register. After registration and board approval, NCEES emails an authorization notice to schedule |
| MyNCEES account | You need a MyNCEES account to register. Each person may have only one account |
| ID name match | The first and last names you register with must be in English and match your government-issued ID |
| Language | All NCEES exams are given in English only |
| Time limit to test | Once approved, you have 12 months to take the exam or you forfeit the registration fee |
| Location | You may test at any NCEES-approved test center in Canada, the United States or U.S. territories, unless you were approved through another international entity |
Format
What’s on the FE exam?
The FE is a closed-book, computer-based exam with an electronic reference handbook. Every discipline exam has 110 questions and 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time. Most questions are multiple choice, and some are alternative item types such as multiple correct options, point and click, drag and drop, and fill in the blank. Both SI and U.S. Customary units are used.
Format
Computer-based, closed book with electronic reference handbook
Questions
110
Passing score
Not stated (pass or fail only)
Exam owner
NCEES, delivered at Pearson test centers
| Content area | Questions or weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification lists 17 knowledge areas, including Mass Transfer and Separation (8–12 questions) and Chemical Reaction Engineering (7–11). |
| Civil | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification lists 14 knowledge areas, including Geotechnical Engineering (10–15 questions), Transportation Engineering (9–14) and Construction Engineering (8–12). |
| Electrical and Computer | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification lists 17 knowledge areas, including Mathematics (11–17 questions), Circuit Analysis, Power Systems, Digital Systems and Software Engineering. |
| Environmental | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification lists 14 knowledge areas, including Water and Wastewater, Air Quality and Control, and Solid and Hazardous Waste. |
| Industrial and Systems | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification lists 13 knowledge areas, including Probability and Statistics (10–15 questions) and Engineering Economics (9–14). |
| Mechanical | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | Specification covers Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Measurements and Controls, and Mechanical Design. |
| Other Disciplines | 110 questions, 5 hr 20 min exam time | For degrees without their own FE exam. Specification lists 14 knowledge areas, including Fluid Mechanics (12–18 questions) and Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer (9–14). |
Scoring & content
- Exam content for each discipline is set out in an NCEES exam specification (effective beginning with the July 2020 exams).
- Your score is based on the number of correct answers. There are no deductions for wrong answers.
- Every question, including alternative item types, is scored right or wrong with no partial credit.
- Each exam includes a limited number of unscored pretest items, and you can’t tell which they are.
- NCEES supplies an electronic reference handbook during the exam.
Retake policy
- You may attempt the exam once per testing window.
- NCEES allows no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.
- The testing windows are January–March, April–June, July–September and October–December.
- Some licensing boards have a stricter retake policy, so check yours.
- You pay the full exam fee each time you register.
Steps
How to register and sit for the exam, step by step
- Check your licensing board’s rulesBefore you apply
Eligibility is decided by each licensing board. Find out whether your board needs its own application or approval before NCEES registration. - Create a MyNCEES accountBefore you register
Use your first and last name in English exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID. You can only have one account. - Register and pay$225 fee
Log in to MyNCEES, choose the FE and your discipline, and pay online by Mastercard, Visa or American Express. To change discipline you must cancel and re-register. Request accommodations during this step if you need them. - Get your authorization noticeAfter board approval
NCEES emails an “Exam Ready to Schedule” notice once you finish registration and your board approves you. You then have 12 months to test. - Schedule your appointmentAt least 1 business day ahead
Choose a Pearson test center and date in MyNCEES. The FE is offered year-round. You’ll get a confirmation email from Pearson. If you don’t, you aren’t scheduled. - Arrive early and check inExam day
Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment with your ID. Check-in includes a digital photo and a palm vein scan. - Get your resultsTypically 7–10 days
NCEES emails you when results are in your MyNCEES account. Results are pass or fail.
Scoring
FE exam passing score and pass rates
NCEES scores the FE by counting correct answers, with no penalty for wrong ones. That raw total is converted to a scaled score to adjust for small differences in difficulty between exam forms, then compared with the ability level needed to pass. Results are typically available 7–10 days after the exam.
| Group or period | Pass rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FE Chemical (743 examinees) | 68% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Civil (6,247 examinees) | 66% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Electrical and Computer (1,782 examinees) | 70% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Environmental (1,063 examinees) | 71% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Industrial and Systems (259 examinees) | 67% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Mechanical (5,153 examinees) | 73% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| FE Other Disciplines (921 examinees) | 61% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
NCEES doesn’t publish the passing score because it varies slightly with exam difficulty, and there is no set percentage of examinees who pass. The pass rates above are for examinees who took the FE for the first time, attended EAC/ABET-accredited programs, and tested within 12 months of graduation. For Other Disciplines, NCEES also reports rates by degree, such as Naval Architecture and Marine at 83% and Mining/Mineral at 41%. Source: NCEES FE exam page.
Exam day
What to expect on exam day
The FE is given at Pearson test centers. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early. A proctor checks your pockets, you sign the NCEES Exam Rules and Agreement digitally, and you get a digital photo and palm vein scan before you test.
What to bring
- One current, physical, government-issued photo ID with an expiration date, your name, date of birth and signature. Digital IDs and student IDs aren’t accepted. A valid U.S. military ID without a signature is accepted
- A passport in roman characters or a U.S. military ID also works
- A printed copy of your appointment confirmation letter, which NCEES says speeds up check-in
- One NCEES-approved calculator: Casio fx-115 or fx-991 models, HP 33s or 35s, or TI-30X or TI-36X models (2026 exams)
- Eyeglasses without the case and a light sweater or jacket
Testing rules
- The first and last name on your confirmation letter and ID must match, or you may not be allowed to test
- Phones, watches, wearables, bags, wallets, hats, notes, food and drinks are not allowed in the testing room
- Pearson supplies reusable booklets and markers; you can’t bring your own pens or paper
- The scheduled break is 25 minutes, taken after you finish and submit about half the questions. Unused break time doesn’t extend your exam time
- Unscheduled breaks are allowed, but they use up your testing time and you can’t leave the building
- Reasonable accommodations are available if you request them during registration and document your need
Costs
How much does the exam cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| FE exam fee (paid to NCEES) | Fixed | $225 |
| Licensing board application fee | Variable | Not stated; some boards charge one |
| Pearson fee when you cancel an appointment (cancel at least 48 hours ahead) | Fixed | $50 |
| NCEES administrative fee when you cancel a registration | Fixed | $50, deducted from your refund |
| Approved calculator | Variable | Not stated |
| International scheduling fee (foreign entity approvals only) | Fixed | $25, nonrefundable |
| Minimum NCEES cost | Exam fee only. Board fees and optional costs are extra | $225 |
Fees come from the NCEES Examinee Guide (May 2026) and the NCEES FE exam page, checked October 2026.
Prep
Best exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet. When we do, we’ll test each course with real exam candidates and report what they found.
After you pass
What happens after you pass?
Your result goes to your licensing board, and NCEES results include board-specific information on how to proceed.
Follow your board’s instructions
Results include information specific to your licensing board about what to do next.
Work toward P.E. licensure
NCEES describes the FE as generally the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer. Your board sets the other requirements.
Contact your board about certification
Some boards have their own process after the exam. Check with your board for any certificate or enrollment it offers.
Maintain
Keeping your result or credential current
The NCEES pages we read don’t say how long an FE result stays valid. Your licensing board sets any rules that follow a pass.
Renewal cycle
Not stated
CE or credits
Not stated
Renewal fee
Not stated
Lapse rule
Not stated
Governance
Who runs the FE exam?
Exam owner
NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying)
200 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 800-250-3196
Website: ncees.org/exams/fe-exam
What they handle
- Writes and maintains the FE exam specifications and questions
- Handles registration, fees and results through MyNCEES
- Delivers the exam at approved Pearson test centers
- Reports pass or fail results to licensing boards
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the FE exam?
Every FE discipline exam has 110 questions.
How long is the FE exam?
The exam itself is 5 hours 20 minutes. NCEES says the appointment also includes a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial and a 25-minute scheduled break.
How much does the FE exam cost?
The fee is $225, paid to NCEES each time you register. Some licensing boards charge a separate application fee.
What is the passing score on the FE exam?
NCEES doesn’t publish it. Results are pass or fail, and the passing standard varies slightly with exam difficulty.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the FE?
No. Your score is based on correct answers, with no deductions for wrong ones.
What is the FE pass rate?
It depends on the discipline. For first-time takers from EAC/ABET programs who tested within 12 months of graduating, NCEES’s July 2026 update shows 73% for Mechanical and 66% for Civil, with the other disciplines between 61% and 71%.
How many times can I take the FE?
Once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12-month period. Your board may be stricter.
When do I get FE results?
NCEES says results are typically available 7–10 days after you test. You’ll get an email to view them in MyNCEES.
Which calculators are allowed on the FE?
For 2026: Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, HP 33s and 35s, and TI-30X and TI-36X models. You may bring one.
Sources
Official sources
- NCEES: FE Exam
- NCEES Examinee Guide (May 2026)
- NCEES: Exam day policies and calculators
- NCEES: FE Civil CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Mechanical CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Electrical and Computer CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Chemical CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Environmental CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Industrial and Systems CBT specifications
- NCEES: FE Other Disciplines CBT specifications
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with NCEES.