PASS THE FE ELECTRICAL
EXAM. EARN YOUR PE.

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first official step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the United States. Administered by NCEES, it is available to engineering students and graduates worldwide. Passing it earns you the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation — the credential that opens the door to your four-year experience requirement and, ultimately, your PE license.

It is not just a test. It is the starting line of your professional engineering career. Every licensed PE in the United States has stood where you are standing right now.

The exam is a computer-based test (CBT) administered at Pearson VUE test centers. It contains 110 questions across a 6-hour appointment, split into two sessions of 55 questions each with an optional 25-minute break between sessions.

The exam is closed book — you receive the NCEES FE Reference Handbook digitally on screen. Both SI and U.S. Customary units are used throughout. Results are reported as pass or fail only; no numerical score is disclosed to candidates.

No — and this surprises many candidates. Unlike some other CBT exams, the FE exam does not display a result on screen when you complete the test at the Pearson VUE center. You walk out without knowing your outcome.

NCEES uses a psychometric scaling process to equalize scores fairly across candidates who receive different question sets. This takes time. Results are typically available within 7–10 business days via email, directing you to your MyNCEES account. Many candidates see results on the Wednesday of the week following their exam.

NCEES permits only three calculator families — the model name must match exactly:

Casio: All fx-115 and fx-991 models  |  HP: 33s and 35s only  |  Texas Instruments: All TI-30X and TI-36X models

Calculator covers and spare calculators must go in your assigned locker. The approved list is reviewed annually — always verify at ncees.org before exam day.

NCEES permits one attempt per testing window (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December) and no more than three attempts within any 12-month period. Some state boards apply more restrictive policies, so confirm your specific board's rules at ncees.org/licensing-boards/.

I failed my first FE attempt in November 2021. I received the diagnostic report, changed my study approach, and passed in February 2022. The report is genuinely valuable — treat it as your roadmap, not a verdict.

Most U.S. state licensing boards require a degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program. However, if your degree is not ABET-accredited — which is common for institutions outside the United States — NCEES offers a Credentials Evaluation service that assesses whether your academic background is substantially equivalent to ABET standards.

The evaluation findings are submitted directly to your chosen state licensing board. The current fee is $400 (confirm at ncees.org). Check your program first at abet.org — if it is accredited, your path is more straightforward.

Yes. Most state boards allow students within two full-time semesters of graduation from an ABET-accredited program to register and sit for the exam before receiving their degree.

This is actually one of the best times to take the FE exam — the material is fresh, you are still in study mode, and passing before graduation puts you ahead of peers who wait. Some state boards interpret this rule differently, so confirm at ncees.org/licensing-boards/ before registering.

Pass the FE exam and earn the EIT designation. Accumulate four years of qualifying engineering experience under a licensed PE. Apply to your state licensing board — not NCEES directly — for PE exam approval, giving yourself at least four months lead time.

Once the board approves you, register with NCEES, pay the $400 PE exam fee, schedule at Pearson VUE, pass the PE exam, and your state board issues your license. PE licenses are state-specific, but most states offer reciprocity so you can add additional states without retaking the exam.

The NCEES FE exam fee is $225 (effective January 1, 2024). International candidates outside Canada pay an additional $25 nonrefundable scheduling fee. Some state boards charge a separate application or EIT certificate fee.

Rescheduling costs $50 online through Pearson VUE and must be done at least 48 hours before your appointment. Canceling an unscheduled registration results in a refund of the NCEES fee minus a $50 administrative fee. Always confirm current fees at ncees.org before registering.

Once NCEES issues your Authorization to Test (ATT), you have 12 months to take the exam. If you fail to test or cancel your registration within that 12-month window, you forfeit your exam fee.

Your EIT/FE pass result, once earned, does not expire — it remains valid indefinitely when you eventually apply for the PE exam. There is no deadline by which you must sit for the PE exam after passing the FE.

Absolutely yes — and this is personal to me. I came from Ghana, navigated every step of the international pathway, and earned my PE license in New Jersey, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. I built ShaiLearning specifically because no clear guide existed for engineers like us when I was going through the process.

The pathway involves an NCEES Credentials Evaluation to establish degree equivalency, selecting an accessible U.S. state board, and following the same FE to EIT to PE progression as domestic candidates. It has extra steps, but it is completely achievable. The door is open to any qualified engineer regardless of where they were trained.

NCEES has formal exam administration agreements in Canada (Alberta via APEGA), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Turkey, and Japan. Alberta candidates must contact APEGA before registering with NCEES. Egypt candidates register through either the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate (EES) or the American University in Cairo (AUC), depending on their institution.

Beyond these countries, Pearson VUE operates in over 180 nations. Check home.pearsonvue.com/ncees for the nearest approved testing center to you. You do not need to travel to the United States to sit for the FE exam.

If your engineering degree is from a program not accredited by EAC/ABET — true for most institutions outside the U.S. — most state boards require this evaluation before you can sit for the PE exam. NCEES reviews your transcripts, syllabi, and degree documents, compares your background against ABET standards, and submits findings directly to your chosen state board.

The current fee is $400 (confirm at ncees.org — fees are subject to change). Think of this as the bridge between your international credentials and the U.S. licensing system. It is not a judgment of your ability — it is a standardized comparison process.

Yes — significantly. Each state sets its own rules for international applicants, and some are considerably more accessible than others. Texas, Florida, and Oregon are commonly recommended starting points for international engineers due to their relatively transparent processes.

You do not need to live in a state to apply for its PE license. Choosing strategically can save months of back-and-forth. Once you hold a PE license from any state, reciprocity makes adding additional states straightforward. This is one of the key decisions we help you navigate in the ShaiLearning mentorship program.

Yes. If you hold both CEng status and IntPE status through the Engineering Council UK (ECUK), you may qualify for the U.S.–UK Mutual Recognition Agreement — which can waive both the FE and PE exam requirements entirely. Participating states include Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, and others.

Contact ECUK at ecuk.org.uk to start the IntPE application process. This is one of the most underused pathways available to UK-based engineers and can substantially shorten the route to a U.S. PE license.

The guide is a strategic roadmap — a comprehensive written resource you work through independently. The FE Mentorship program is a personalised 1-on-1 engagement with Shaibu Ibrahim, P.E. directly.

Mentorship includes: a custom study plan built around your schedule and weak knowledge areas, technical coaching sessions across all 17 FE exam domains, experience record guidance, state board application strategy, and ongoing accountability throughout your preparation. The guide gives you the map. Mentorship puts an experienced PE beside you who has already walked the road.

Mentorship cohorts open periodically with a limited number of spots to ensure quality and personal attention. Waitlist members receive priority access before spots open to the general public.

To secure your place: join the waitlist at shailearning.com/waitlist. When mentorship enrollment opens, waitlist members are notified first with a booking link for a free 15-minute discovery call to assess fit and build your initial plan.

Yes. A free 15-minute discovery call is available for engineers with a specific situation or urgent question — especially international candidates navigating credential evaluation, engineers who have failed the FE exam and want a strategy reset, or anyone unsure which track is right for them.

Book at shailearning.com/book. Come with your specific questions and your current situation. You will leave with a clear next step and a personalised plan — regardless of whether you join the mentorship program.

The mentorship program was built with international engineers in mind from day one. ShaiLearning reaches engineers in 150+ countries, and a meaningful portion of the mentorship community comes from West Africa, South Asia, the UK, the Middle East, and beyond.

For international engineers, mentorship includes dedicated guidance on the NCEES credentials evaluation process, state board selection strategy, international experience documentation, international exam centre scheduling, and the UK CEng/IntPE recognition route where applicable. Sessions are conducted remotely — time zones are coordinated during the discovery call.

This question is personal to me. I failed my first FE attempt in November 2021. I received the diagnostic report, changed my approach entirely, and passed in February 2022. Failing once does not define your outcome — it refines your strategy if you let it.

The mentorship program for returning candidates includes a diagnostic review of your previous performance report, a rebuilt study plan targeting your specific weak knowledge areas, and the accountability structure that makes the difference between a second failure and a confident pass.