If you have decided it is time to take the FE Electrical & Computer exam — whether you are a recent graduate, a working engineer who has been putting it off, or an international candidate trying to figure out where to even begin — this post is for you.
I am going to walk you through the entire registration process, step by step, with the exact information you need to get it right the first time. No guesswork. No missing steps. Just a clear path forward. Let's get started.
What Exactly Is the FE Exam?
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first formal step in becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the United States. Passing it earns you the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation — and starts the 4-year experience clock toward your full PE license. However, if you are already a working engineer under the supervision of a licensed engineer, then your have already started accumulating the professional engineering experience. That is, you just have to take the exam and move on to the next step. More to come about that.
The FE Electrical & Computer exam covers 17 knowledge areas, is 110 questions long, and takes 6 hours to complete at a Pearson VUE test center. It is a computer-based, closed-book exam — but you get the NCEES FE Reference Handbook on screen the entire time.
The FE exam is administered by NCEES — the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. The NCEES manages the exam, your account, and your results. Every registration step goes through them at ncees.org.
Check Your Eligibility First
Eligibility to sit for the FE exam is determined by your licensing board — not NCEES directly. Here is what you need to know before spending a single dollar.
🇺🇸 U.S. Candidates
ABET-Accredited DegreeIf you studied at an EAC/ABET-accredited electrical engineering program in the U.S., you are almost certainly eligible. Most states even let you sit in your final year of school.
- Final-year students: check with your state board — many allow early attempts
- Recent graduates: eligible immediately after degree completion
- Working engineers: no time limit — sit for the FE at any point in your career
🌍 International Candidates
Non-U.S. Degree HoldersIf your degree is from outside the United States, you will likely need the NCEES Credentials Evaluation ($400) before registering — a review of whether your degree is equivalent to ABET accreditation.
- Engineers from Washington Accord countries (India, UK, Australia, and others) typically have smoother evaluations
- You do not need to travel to the U.S. — Pearson VUE tests in 180+ countries and territories including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, and Canada among others.
- Read more international-professionals
Do not skip the eligibility check. Paying the $225 exam fee before confirming your state board's requirements is one of the most common — and most costly — mistakes candidates make. Spend 15 minutes on your state board's website first.
For personal quick of your general eligibility, take a look at Quick Eligibility Check
The 6-Step FE Exam Registration Process
Here is the exact sequence. Do these in order — skipping steps will delay or void your registration.
Go to your state engineering licensing board's website before creating your NCEES account. Each state board has its own rules on eligibility, pre-approval forms, and whether they charge a separate application fee.
- Some states (e.g. California, Texas, New York) require board pre-approval before NCEES registration
- Other states let you register with NCEES first and notify the board later
- State board directory: licensing-boards information
Image source: NCEES
Go to ncees.org and create a free MyNCEES account. This is the central hub for everything — registration, your Authorization to Test (ATT), the FE Reference Handbook, and your results.
Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued photo ID. A name mismatch can result in being turned away on exam day with no refund. You may only have one MyNCEES account — never create duplicates.
Log in to MyNCEES, select "Register for an exam," choose FE Electrical & Computer, and complete registration. You pay the exam fee directly to NCEES here — accepted via MasterCard, VISA, and American Express. Confirm with NCEES if otherwise.
| Fee Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FE Exam Fee (U.S.) | $225 | Paid directly to NCEES at registration |
| FE Exam Fee (Alberta, Canada via APEGA) | $250 | APEGA application required first |
| International Scheduling Fee | $25 | Non-refundable — non-Canadian international candidates |
| NCEES Credentials Evaluation (Intl.) | $400 | International engineers only — required before registration. May be exempted if ABET accredited. |
| MyNCEES Account | Free | No charge to create |
If you need to cancel: cancel your Pearson VUE appointment first (at least 48 hours in advance — $50 fee to Pearson VUE), then cancel your NCEES registration. You receive a partial refund from NCEES — the $225 fee less a $50 administrative fee. Your registration is tied to a 12-month window — fail to sit within 12 months and you forfeit the fee.
Once NCEES processes your registration and your state board approves your application, NCEES sends your Authorization to Test (ATT) by email. This contains your Eligibility ID — the number you need to schedule at Pearson VUE.
- ATT processing time varies by state board — typically a few days to a few weeks
- Do not try to schedule at Pearson VUE before your ATT arrives — you cannot book without your Eligibility ID
- Once your ATT arrives, schedule immediately — popular test centers fill fast
Go to pearsonvue and log in using your Eligibility ID. Select your preferred testing center, date, and time. The exam is available in four annual windows:
| Testing Window | Best For |
|---|---|
| January – March | Recent fall graduates and retakers starting fresh |
| April – June | Most popular window — schedule early, centers fill quickly |
| July – September | Summer graduates and engineers targeting a Q3 pass |
| October – December | Strategic candidates aiming for year-end completion |
The April–June window is consistently the busiest. Major city test centers can fill up 4–6 weeks in advance. The moment your ATT arrives — schedule. Do not wait. You may sit for the exam once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12-month period.
Three non-negotiables before you walk into that testing room:
Only these models are allowed — any other will be confiscated at check-in:
| Brand | Approved Models |
|---|---|
| Casio | All fx-115 and fx-991 models (name must contain 'fx-115' or 'fx-991') |
| Texas Instruments | All TI-30X and TI-36X models (name must contain 'TI-30X' or 'TI-36X') |
| Hewlett Packard | HP 33s and HP 35s only |
Download the free NCEES FE Reference Handbook from your MyNCEES account and study it before your exam. It is the only reference available on screen during the test. You need to know where every formula lives — it is searchable, but with under 3 minutes per question, speed matters Please do not take this for granted.
Your ID must match the exact name in your MyNCEES account. Bring a valid, unexpired passport, driver's license, or national ID. No exceptions are made at the test center.
One Thing Most Candidates Get Wrong About Results
Your FE exam results are not displayed on screen when you finish at the test center. I know — this surprises a lot of people. You will finish the exam, the screen will go blank, and you will walk out not knowing if you passed.
Results are released by NCEES within 7–10 business days via email and your MyNCEES account. They typically arrive on the Wednesday following the end of your testing window. Until then — wait, rest, and don't stress.
If You Pass
Your MyNCEES account reflects your passing status. Apply to your state board for the EIT/EI designation — the process varies by state but is straightforward.
If You Don't Pass
NCEES provides a diagnostic report showing your performance by knowledge area. This report is your roadmap for the retake — use every data point in it.
I want to re-emphasize this again, you may retake the exam once per testing window, and no more than three times in any 12-month period. If you do not pass, NCEES and your state board will confirm your eligibility to retake — allow a few days after results for the system to update.
The Full Registration Checklist
Click each item as you complete it. Use this to track your progress through the registration process.
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01Check state board eligibility requirementsVisit your state board website before anything else
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02Create MyNCEES account — legal name, one account onlyncees.org — name must match your government ID exactly
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03Complete NCEES Credentials Evaluation International Only Required for non-U.S. degrees — fee: $400 — allow 4–6 weeks
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04Register for the FE Electrical & Computer examLog in to MyNCEES → Register for an exam
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05Pay the $225 exam fee to NCEESMasterCard, VISA, or American Express accepted
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06Receive ATT email with your Eligibility IDDo not schedule at Pearson VUE until this arrives
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07Schedule exam at Pearson VUE using Eligibility IDhome.pearsonvue.com/ncees — book as early as possible
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08Download FE Reference Handbook from MyNCEESStudy the layout before exam day — know where every formula lives
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09Purchase an NCEES-approved calculatorCasio fx-115/fx-991 · TI-30X/TI-36X · HP 33s/HP 35s
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10Confirm government-issued ID matches account name exactlyPassport, driver's license, or national ID — must be valid and unexpired
Registration Done. Now Comes the Real Work.
Registration is just the starting line. The real work is the 8–12 weeks of structured preparation across all 17 knowledge areas — Circuit Analysis, Power Systems, Digital Systems, Control Systems, and the rest. That is where most candidates win or lose the exam.
I have put together a free FE Electrical & Computer Study Guide that walks you through exactly what the exam tests, how to build your personalised study plan, how to use the Reference Handbook efficiently under exam conditions, and a dedicated chapter for international candidates navigating the U.S. credential pathway. It is the resource I wish I had had when I was in your position.
Covers all 17 NCEES knowledge areas · Full registration & international pathway chapter · Exam day strategy · Built-in study plan framework. No payment required. Instant download.
Preparing for the June 2026 FE Mentorship Cohort? Join the waitlist at FE Electrical & Computer waitlist. Waitlist members get first access to enrollment and priority before it opens to the public.
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