College of Engineering & Science

Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The FE exam is the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer.  The exam is offered twice a year, in April and October, with most students taking the exam right before graduation.  Students generally achieve higher scores on the exam if it is taken while the technical information learned during the undergraduate career is still fresh in their minds.

Who can take the FE exam?

Senior engineering undergrads who are within one year of graduation.  For example, a student who takes the exam in April 2010 must be graduating in May 2010, August 2010, or December 2010.  Individuals taking the exam in October 2010 must be graduating in December 2010, May 2011, or August 2011.

Graduate students and persons who have previously taken the exam should contact Jessica Pelfrey (pelfrey@clemson.edu) prior to completing any registration materials.

Steps to Register:

  1. Complete the exam application in the CoES Dean's Office (107 Riggs Hall) between August 24th - August 28th, 2009. 
  2. Applications are then sent by the CoES Dean's Office to the SC Board in Columbia for processing.
  3. Candidates should receive an email confirming the Board's approval of their application materials.  However, it is not necessary to wait for this email - you should go ahead and pay the examination fee.
  4. Register online at https://www.ncees.org/examadministration/state_info.php?state=South Carolina .  Candidates must have submitted an application to the CoES Dean's Office before registering online. 
  5. The examination fee ($135) must be paid electronically by September 4th, 2009.  This information can be found at https://www.ncees.org/examadministration/state_info.php?state=South Carolina .  There are no exceptions.  It is your responsibility to confirm receipt of fees before the deadline.

Preparing for the Exam:

The CoES Dean's Office coordinates a series of 7 review courses prior to each exam administration.  The Fall 2009 schedule is as follows:

Date Course Time
9/3/09 Engineering Statics 6:30-9:30pm
9/10/09 Engineering Dynamics 6:30-9:30pm
9/17/09 Engineering Economics 6:30-9:30pm
9/24/09 Strength of Materials 6:30-9:30pm
10/1/09 Applied Thermodynamics 6:30-9:30pm
10/8/09 Basic Electrical Circuit Analysis 6:30-9:30pm
10/15/09 Basic Fluid Mechanics 6:30-9:30pm

Review sessions will be held in 100 Lowry Hall.

Currently enrolled students can register for the review series when registering for the exam.  Cost is $75 per person, payable by cash, check, or money order (checks & money orders should be made payable to "Clemson University"). 

Individuals who are not currently enrolled at Clemson are also welcome to register for the review series.  Cost is $150 - please email Jessica Pelfrey (pelfrey@clemson.edu) for a registration form.

Exam Dates:

2009

April 25

October 24

2010

April 17

October 30

2011

April 9

October 29

2012

April 14

October 27

2013

April 13

October 26

2014

April 12

October 25

2015

April 18

October 31

2016

April 16

October 29

2017

April 22

October 28

2018

April 14

October 27

 

Reporting to the Exam Site:

All examinees should report to the exam site by 7:15 a.m.  Examinee admissions will take place from 7:15-7:40 a.m.

Absolutely no examinees will be allowed into the building after 7:40 a.m.  It is the responsibility of the examinee to take necessary precautions to ensure that they arrive on time.

If you are late you will not be admitted.  All examinees must be seated when instructions begin at 7:40 a.m.

Format of the Exam:

Each exam is 8 hours long, with one 4-hour session in the morning and another 4-hour session in the afternoon.  Examinees must participate in both sessions on the same day.  Both exams are closed book, and reference material is supplied.

During the morning session, all examinees take a general exam common to all disciplines.  During the afternoon session, examinees can opt to take a general exam or a discipline-specific exam.  Currently, the choice of the afternoon module is made on exam day.  However, beginning with the October 2010 exam, examinees will be required to declare their desired PM module prior to test day. 

For further exam specifications, visit http://www.ncees.org/exams/fundamentals/fe_exam_specs.pdf.

Reference Materials:

The FE is a closed-book exam, and examinees are NOT permitted to bring reference materials of any kind to the exam room.  An advance copy of the FE Supplied Reference Handbook will be provided when applications are submitted to the CoES Dean's Office.  Handbooks are also available for download at http://www.ncees.org/exams/study_materials/fe_handbook/index.php. 

A new copy of the FE Supplied Reference Handbook will be distributed to FE examinees for use during the exam.  No advance copies are allowed in the exam room.  No marks are allowed to be made in the handbook distributed at the exam site.  Page markers, including self-adhesive tabs and sticky notes, are not permitted in closed-book exams.

Writing Instruments:

Examinees must use NCEES-issued mechanical pencils.  These pencils will be distributed at the exam site.  The pencil will be pre-loaded with 0.7mm HB lead.  This is the only writing instrument allowed.  Examinees may NOT bring lead or erasers.  If additional lead or an eraser is needed during the exam, it will be provided by a test proctor.

Personal Items:

No book bags or purses are allowed in the exam room.  Any personal items must be contained in a clear plastic bag.

Cell phones, pagers, beepers, PDA's, etc. are NOT allowed in the exam room or building.  If any prohibited item is found in an examinee's possession after the exam begins, or if an examinee is found to be using a writing instrument other than the NCEES supplied pencil, the item will be confiscated, the examinee dismissed from the exam, his or her exam will not be scored an no refund will be provided.  All confiscated items will be forwarded to NCEES.

No tobacco products are permitted during the exam, or in the building.

Hoods (except approved religious apparel) and hats are not allowed.

NCEES, the State Board, nor Clemson University are liable for any loss or damage to any unallowable items brought into the exam room.

Calculator Policy:

NCEES specifies which calculators are allowed in the exam room for use during the exam.  No other models of calculators will be allowed.  Please see http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/ for a list of approved calculators.

As with cell phones and other electronic devices, any inappropriate calculators will be confiscated by the proctor.  If an unapproved calculator is found in your possession after the exam begins, you will be immediately dismissed from the exam room and your exam will not be scored.

Exam Results:

Exam results are mailed directly to the examinee typically within 12 weeks from the date of the exam.  Do not call the CoES Dean's Office, State Board, or NCEES in this regard.

Information on exam scoring is available at http://www.ncees.org/exams/scoring/.

After Passing the Exam:

Once you have received notification that you have passed the exam and you have graduated from Clemson, you are required to send an official Clemson University transcript to the SC Board in Columbia at:

            LLR Board of Engineers & Land Surveyors
            PO Box 11597
            Columbia, SC 29211-1597

Passing the FE exam is the first step toward licensure.  To continue the licensure process, complete the following:

  • Obtain at least 4 years of experience deemed acceptable to your licensing board
  • Take one of the Principles and Practice (PE/PS) exams.

Contact your licensing board regarding its requirements and recommendations for licensure.

 

For More Information:

  • National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying
    • www.ncees.org
    • Learn more about licensure for engineers, the FE examination, and study materials
  • LLR Board of Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors
  • CoES Dean's Office

 

Maintained by:
College of Engineering and Science
107 Riggs Hall, Clemson, S.C. 29634 | Jessica Pelfrey | (864) 656-4440