Are you gearing up to take the FE Exam in 2027? Here are some things about the exam you should know: it contains 110 questions, consists of a 5 hours and 20 minutes slot for the exam, is the first exam in the licensure process for the Professional Engineer (PE) title in the United States, and is the exam most often referred to as the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. NCEES FE Exam official page
The FE exam is most often taken by students in their final years of school and students who have just finished their studies. Most engineering jobs/careers do not require you to take the FE, but for jobs in civil engineering, structural engineering, and infrastructure jobs, the consulting field, or any job for which license is a requirement for professional practice, it is advisable to take the FE well before.
This guide will provide all the information you may need for 2027 regarding eligibility, cost, disciplines, pass rates, registration, and of course, preparation.
FE Exam 2027 – Quick Facts
| FE Exam Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Fundamentals of Engineering Exam |
| Conducted by | NCEES |
| Exam format | Computer-based |
| Questions | 110 |
| Exam time | 5 hours 20 minutes |
| Total appointment | 6 hours |
| Scheduled break | 25 minutes |
| Availability | Year-round |
| Result | Pass or Fail |
| Typical result time | 7–10 business days |
| Number of FE disciplines | 7 |
| Main purpose | First exam in the common PE licensure path |
NCEES currently reports FE results within 7 to 10 business days. Candidates receive the result through their MyNCEES account. Check FE exam registration and results on NCEES.
What Is the FE Exam?
The FE exam is a computer-based assessment of the fundamentals of engineering that is typically covered in a traditional undergraduate engineering degree.
Passing the FE exam does not mean you are a Professional Engineer (PE).
The process of obtaining your PE and practicing as a PE in the US is typically done in the following order:
Engineering Degree → FE Exam → Engineering Experience → PE Exam → PE License
Each of the 50 states and the US territories have their own licensing board, so the requirements differ. After you pass the FE Exam, some states allow applicants to register as an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI).
How Much Is the FE Exam in 2027?
According to the 2026 edition of the NCEES Examinee Guide, the cost for each attempt of the FE exam is $225. Some state licensing boards may charge a different application or processing fee. Read the current NCEES Examinee Guide.
For the 2027 attempts, refer to the current NCEES fee when you register. Exam fees are subject to change.
International applicants may incur additional costs to schedule the exam depending on the location of the testing center.
Additional costs outside of the exam itself
The total cost for preparation may include the following (but not limited to):
- The registration of the FE exam
- State board application fee (if applicable)
- Approved calculator
- Practice exams
- Prep books or courses
- Travelling costs to the testing center
It is NOT necessary to purchase all preparation products for the FE exam. The official materials for the exam, the FE reference handbook, and specification guidelines, are a good place to start. Download the official NCEES reference handbook.
Who Can Take the FE Exam?
The FE exam is generally designed for students who are in their final years of undergraduate study and for recent graduates.
NCEES states this exam is designed for students who are in the latter stages of an undergraduate engineering program or have recently completed an undergraduate engineering program.
For students in ABET/EAC accredited engineering programs, it is generally a straightforward process to take the FE exam. ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission accredits engineering programs at the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree level. Learn about ABET engineering accreditation.
Can you take the FE exam before you graduate?
Possibly.
Many students take the exam during their senior year because the math and science and engineering fundamentals are still somewhat recently learned.
Assuming you are in the United States, check with your state’s licensing board before you register, because likely the rules regarding graduation eligibility are not uniform. Check FE requirements for your state.
Which FE Exam Should I Take?
NCEES provides seven divisions of the FE exam:
- Chemical
- Civil
- Electrical and Computer
- Environmental
- Industrial and Systems
- Mechanical
- Other Disciplines
Most students should take the FE exam that is closest to their degree.
| Engineering Major | Common FE Choice |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | FE Civil |
| Mechanical Engineering | FE Mechanical |
| Electrical Engineering | FE Electrical and Computer |
| Computer Engineering | FE Electrical and Computer |
| Chemical Engineering | FE Chemical |
| Environmental Engineering | FE Environmental |
| Industrial Engineering | FE Industrial and Systems |
| Aerospace Engineering | Often FE Mechanical or Other Disciplines |
| Biomedical Engineering | Often Other Disciplines |
Do not take the FE Other Disciplines because you think it is broader or easier.
Download the exam specifications for the disciplines and see if the topics align with what you studied in your degree.
Students looking for additional engineering learning and project resources can also explore Fried Engineers.
Format and Duration of the FE Exam
There are 110 questions in the FE exam.
Your appointment is six hours total:
- two minutes for the nondisclosure agreement
- eight minutes for the tutorial
- five hours and twenty minutes for the exam
- a scheduled 25 minute break
This gives you approximately three minutes per question.
Some questions will take less time and some will take longer.
One mistake test-takers often make is focusing on one hard question and trying to answer it, while easy questions go unanswered.
Is the FE Exam Open Book?
No, not really.
You can’t bring texts, formula sheets, notes, etc., to the exam.
NCEES provides an FE Reference Handbook for the exam that you are also able to download through MyNCEES prior to your exam. This should be used frequently during practice. Access the NCEES FE Reference Handbook.
Knowing a formula is one thing. Knowing where to find it is also important on the FE exam.
You should practice looking up:
- Moment of Inertia
- Bernoulli’s Equation
- Standard Deviation
- Kirchhoff’s laws
- Stress and Strain
- Heat Transfer
- Probability Distributions
Depending on your FE Discipline, you should practice looking up some of the following terms.
Knowing an equation is good. Knowing where to find it is also important and useful on the FE exam.
FE Exam Pass Rates
According to NCEES, the pass rates are different for every Discipline.
For first-time examinees for the 2024–25 period, the pass rates were as follows:
| FE Discipline | First-Time Examinees Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| Chemical | 68% |
| Civil | 61% |
| Electrical and Computer | 64% |
| Environmental | 67% |
| Industrial and Systems | 62% |
| Mechanical | 69% |
| Other Disciplines | 61% |
The Mechanical Discipline of the FE Exam had a pass rate of 69%. While Civil and Other Disciplines had a pass rate of 61% for the 2024–25 period.
This does not mean FE Mechanical is the easiest. The other disciplines and backgrounds of the examinees is also different.
NCEES had 57,902 FE examinees for the 2024–25 period compared to 53,213 the previous year.
What Is the Passing Score on the FE Exam?
NCEES has not disclosed a passing grade for the FE exam that is along the lines of 60%, 70% or 75%.
Your test result would simply indicate PASS or FAIL.
In turn, you should be cautious when navigating websites or discussion forums that claim scores in the 80% range indicate test passage.
If you do not pass, you will receive a diagnostic report indicating your performance for the different major exam sections.
It would be of no benefit to leave questions blank, as the FE Exam is not a negative marking exam.
When Is the Appropriate Time to Take the FE Exam?
Most people consider senior year academically the easiest.
Consider the subjects you may need:
Calculus, probability, statics, dynamics, circuits, materials, fluids, thermodynamics or engineering economics.
You may be using several of these subjects every week while in college.
After 5 years, you may remember the concepts, but may need much more time to recall the details.
The FE exam is administered throughout the year, so you can take it based on your convenience.
NCEES has 4 testing windows which contain:
- January to March
- April to June
- July to September
- October to December
Candidates are allowed one attempt in a testing window and can take the exam only three times within 12 months.
How Much Time Should Be Allocated for FE Exam Preparation?
Recent engineering graduates will likely need less preparation than those who graduated 6 years ago.
8 to 12 weeks seems like a good starting point for a lot of people.
That is neither a NCEES rule nor a suggestion, but, probably, enough time to review a lot of the subjects without preparing for FE full time.
A 10 Week FE Study Plan
Weeks 1–2: Get Familiar with the Exam
Download:
- Your FE exam specification
- FE Reference Handbook
- Calculator policy
Go through the topic weights and identify the subjects you don’t require much study for.
Don’t make the mistake of working through everything from the start.
An FE Civil student with stronger statics than fluid mechanics should allocate more time to fluid mechanics.
Weeks 3–6: Work Problems After Understanding Concepts
Work problems after understanding concepts.
Reading only makes you think you’ve understood something.
Weeks 7–8: Study Different Subjects
Stop studying only one subject at a time.
Solve math, engineering economics, ethics, and discipline related problems which require mixed sets.
The real exam makes you switch between multiple subjects.
Weeks 9–10: Do Timed Practice
Longer timed practices are important.
Use the FE Reference Handbook exactly like you would when taking the exam.
Track your mistakes.
An example error list can look like:
| Mistake | What to Fix |
|---|---|
| Didn’t know concept | Review theory |
| Couldn’t find equation | Practice handbook search |
| Calculator mistake | Slow down |
| Unit error | Check units |
| Ran out of time | Improve question selection |
| Misread question | Read final sentence twice |
This is more practical than just recording your practice score.
NCEES also offers official interactive practice exams for all seven FE disciplines. See NCEES FE interactive practice exams.
How to Register for the FE Exam
Registration is done through MyNCEES.
The basic process is:
- Create or sign in to your MyNCEES account.
- Check your state licensing board requirements.
- Select the FE exam.
- Confirm your discipline.
- Complete the payment and registration.
- Do any board approval required by your state.
- Select an available testing center date.
NCEES gives candidates the ability to see available dates and testing centers during the scheduling process. Start with the official NCEES FE exam page.
Do the state-board check before paying. Some boards require additional paperwork or approval.
What Comes After Passing the FE Exam?
Here’s what you can expect after passing the FE exam:
This will largely depend on your career path and your state. Some people apply for EIT or EI. Others begin obtaining the engineering experience needed to apply for the PE license.
Some people think that passing the FE exam is the last step in the licensure process, but that’s not true.
PE licensure is: Education + FE + Experience + PE + State license
The specific details on the experience and application process are provided by your state licensing board.
Do I NEED to Take the FE Exam?
No.
Many people don’t take the exam.
A software developer working on mobile apps or cloud systems has no need for a PE license.
There are more occasions for taking the FE when your work is more likely to be in:
- Civil infrastructure
- Structural engineering
- Transportation
- Water resources
- Environmental
- Electrical power
- HVAC and building systems
- Engineering consulting
- Public sector engineering
If you are unsure, look at the job postings in that market.
Spend time searching for job openings that specify:
FE Preferred, EIT Required, PE Preferred, and PE Required.
This will provide you more of the specifics regarding the importance of licensure in your selected field rather than a general opinion if every engineer must take the FE.
FE Exam vs PE Exam
The FE and PE Exams are designed for different purposes.
| FE Exam | PE Exam |
|---|---|
| Usually taken earlier | Usually taken later |
| Tests engineering fundamentals | Tests professional engineering knowledge |
| First exam in the common licensure path | Later step toward PE licensure |
| Seven FE disciplines | Multiple PE disciplines |
| Computer-based | Format depends on discipline |
Passing the FE does not give you a PE license.
It places you on the licensure path.
Frequently Asked Questions About the FE Exam 2027
Is the FE exam hard?
Though the exam requires some preparation, thousands of engineering students pass it every year. Recent NCEES first-time pass rates range from 61% to 69% across the seven FE disciplines.
How many questions are on the FE exam?
The FE exam contains 110 questions.
What is the duration of the FE exam?
The duration of the exam is 5 hours and 20 minutes, but the total appointment time is 6 hours, including time for the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, as well as a scheduled break.
How much is the cost of the FE exam?
As found in the NCEES Examinee Guide, the cost of taking the FE exam is $225. State board fees may come at an additional cost. The fee for the 2027 exam is subject to change.
Can one take the FE exam while still an undergraduate?
Many students take it towards the end of their studies, but the rules may vary state by state.
Can the FE exam be taken multiple times?
Yes, candidates are permitted a maximum of three FE exam attempts in each 12 month span.
How long does it take to receive FE exam results?
The results are typically sent 7–10 business days after the completion of the exam via MyNCEES.
Is the FE exam worth it?
If you believe having a PE may offer potential for career advancement, it’s worth it. If you are in one of those fields where PE licenses are predominant, you should take it before you graduate to avoid a lengthy review of undergrad concepts.
