Not sure if you should take the FE and PE exams? You are not alone. People often have concerns about the exams, because of the amount of time and effort involved in the process.
Let us clear the doubts regarding the professional engineering exams together!
To get your engineering license, the FE and PE Exams are the two highly regarded Professional Engineer Exams. Conducted by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) these are necessary to get your license as a professional engineer.
However, tackling the exams is a challenging feat. For this reason, students are often advised to supplement their preparation with an online FE and PE exam prep study course.
In this blog post, we will discuss the FE and PE exams, the major reasons to opt for them and the hurdles you might face on the way. Dive in to know more!
The Professional Engineering Exams: An Overview
The well-known professional engineering exams, the FE and PE exams are conducted to provide license and experience to aspiring engineers in their fields. The two esteemed exams are organized by NCEES, a non-profit organization in the United States of America dedicated to advancing the professional licensure of surveyors and engineers.
The process of licensure begins with the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE), the stepping stone to becoming a Professional Engineer. The second comes, The Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE) which completes the procedure for the license. The organization also conducts other engineering exams like the Structural Engineering exam, to examine the engineers who practice in jurisdictions.
As we have a brief idea of the engineering exams, let’s now move on to the exams separately:
The FE Exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) also known as the Engineer in Training Exam (EIT) is a computer-based exam conducted year-round. It is specifically designed to test your fundamental knowledge of engineering concepts. Students can take the exam in their final year of engineering degree or recent engineering graduates.
Taking the exam for the first time might feel overwhelming, however, you can opt for an FE exam prep study course to prepare under professional supervision.
The exam includes mostly the topics of your undergraduate degree. There are different types of FE exams such as:
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Mechanical
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Civil
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Environmental
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Electrical Computer
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Chemical
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Industrial
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Other Disciplines
The computer-based exam is taken at the Pearson Vue test center location, and the duration of the exam is 6 hours including a nondisclosure agreement and a tutorial, the exam (5 hours and 20 minutes) and a scheduled break of 25 minutes.
The exam is followed by a four-year training to gain experience for your career as an engineer. Obtaining experience requires you to work under a licensed professional engineer and obtain an Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate. And that’s how you reach the next step in the process which is passing the PE exam.
The PE Exam
The Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam (PE) is your final test in the process of obtaining the license. The duration of the exam is about 9 hours including the nondisclosure agreement, tutorial, the exam (8.5 hours) and the scheduled break of 50 minutes.
The exam is offered in 27 disciplines with specifications such as:
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Architectural
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Chemical
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Civil
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Nuclear
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Petroleum
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Structural
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Control Systems
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Electrical and Computer
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Environmental
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Fire Protection
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Industrial and Systems
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Mechanical
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Agricultural and Biological
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Metallurgical and Materials
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Mining and Mineral Processing
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Naval Architecture and Marine
The exam is conducted after four years of training which can be a hurdle to prepare on your own, which is why you should look for a PE exam prep study course to make the process easier for you.
Why Should You Take The FE and PE Exams?
Taking the professional engineering exams is proof of your credibility as a practicing engineer. While in the process you have to go through two of the most difficult exams and training that makes you ready for your career as an engineer.
Once you have acquired your professional engineer license you get job offers as per your qualification and experience as a professional. It helps you in your career growth and optimum results for the employers.
The FE exam in particular helps you strengthen the basic engineering concepts that are essential to know as a professional in the field and the training under the Professional Engineer (PE) helps you obtain the required exposure in the field.
It is always advisable to get the license on time so that you can get better career opportunities and chances of working under renowned professionals in your field. Well-known organizations hire only those engineers who have the license as professional engineers.
What Are The Major Challenges Faced in Preparing For FE and PE Exams?
To pass the professional engineering exams is not an easy feat. It requires time, effort and patience throughout the process to clear both the exam and acquire the license. You might face hurdles along the way in this long process of becoming a professional. Some of the major challenges are:
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It takes a lot of time to prepare for professional civil exams. Which can hinder your confidence sometimes during your preparation.
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There is a lengthy number of topics in the exam syllabus. Covering the wide syllabus might feel like a big challenge if not prepared properly.
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It can be challenging to manage your time and mental health, both during exam preparation and on test day. The exam duration and the extensive syllabus are not an easy task to tackle.
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There won't be enough time in your preparation period for you to study extensively for every subject on the syllabus.
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Exams like FE and PE that are lengthy can be difficult if you haven't done any advanced practice.
Takeaway
To ensure career growth and better opportunities as a practicing engineer, you must pass the FE and PE exams and get the license of a professional engineer. Get your professional engineer license with the help of the experts at Civil Engineering Academy and take your preparation to the next level.
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