Exams
Taking the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (F.E.)
to become an Engineering-in-Training (E.I.T.)
Frequently-Asked Questions and Answers
1. What is the Fundamentals of Engineering exam?
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is an all day exam (2 sessions of 4 hours each) that is administered by the Washington State Department of Licensing as one step in the State's process to award a Professional Engineering License. The exam is entirely multiple choice, with 120 questions in the morning session, and 60 questions in the afternoon session. An applicant may elect either "general" or "discipline specific" versions of the afternoon exam. Washington is one of many states that subscribe to a national standard proposed by the NCEES (see below for more on NCEES), who actually produces and scores the exam.
2. Why should I take the FE exam?
You must pass the FE exam before you will be allowed to take the Professional Engineer exam. Although it is possible to petition the State Board to accept (at least 4 years') additional experience in lieu of the FE, recent experience suggests that such petitions are seldom approved in Washington. You should also advertise to prospective employers that you are taking/have passed the FE exam and have EIT status. Don't forget that, if you fail it the first time, you can always retake the exam.
3. When should I take the exam?
Take the exam BEFORE GRADUATION — during your last semester — or as soon thereafter as possible.
4. What is the pass rate for the FE exam?
70-80% for the past several FE exams administered in Washington. For example, for the April 1998 FE exam, 69% of over 22,000 examinees passed the exam nationwide. For all examinees taking the discipline-specific ("DS") Mechanical exam (7% of total), the pass rate was 79%. Notably, the pass rate for first-time takers of the Mechanical DS exam from ABET-accredited ME programs was 90%. WSU grads have generally equalled or surpassed this over the years. If you're thinking of taking the General exam rather than the DS version, note that the pass rate has generally been slightly higher for the DS exams than for the General.
5. How do I sign up for the FE exam?
Apply to State of Washington's Department of Licensing — fill out the form on the Internet (download PDF file at http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/651018ls.htm) for Washington State Licensing's EIT information page — or, call the Washington State Department of Licensing 360-664-1575 for an application package. Cost is $30 to Washington DOL at time of application, with additional exam fee paid later. You must register AT LEAST FOUR (4) MONTHS PRIOR TO EXAM DATE. The exam is offered twice per year (October & April ). In Spring the EIT is usually administered at sites in the Seattle area, in Spokane, and sometimes on campus at Pullman. In the Fall, sites are usually Tri-Cities and the Seattle area.
6. What materials may I bring to the exam?
The official FE Reference Manual will be provided to you at the exam, and is the only reference material allowed. A calculator is also permitted. You may borrow a copy of the FE Reference Manual from WSU-TC ASME student section files (see Russ Westphal, West 207E). A copy of this manual will also be sent to you from the Washington Board of Licensing when you submit your application and fee ($30 must be submitted to Washington DOL upon application, with an additional fee paid later). If you want an advance look at it, you can buy (or download) a copy of the FE Reference Manual. But do note that you will NOT be allowed to use your personal copy during the exam. A new, clean copy will be provided to you at the exam start.
7. What options exist to prepare for the EIT?
You can contact Professional Publications Inc. or NCEES (address and phone numbers below) to obtain a copy of the official FE Reference Manual (or download it), sample problems & solutions, etc. if you are studying on your own (these materials are provided as part of the study/review course). You can buy a thick review manual by PPI at the WSU-TC Student's Bookstore; at the PPI WEB site there is also an online bank of sample questions that are available at no cost (see PPI link below). An extensive new review coursebook (approx cost: $200) may be ordered by calling 800-935-0945. Remember that the official copy of the FE Reference Manual, provided to you at the exam, is the only reference you can use during the exam. The WSU-TC ASME Student Section purchased the ASME's EIT/ME video & workbook study program in Fall 1996, and these materials are on reserve and may be checked out at no cost from Joanne Baker (call 372-7217 to arrange to get them) — feedback from the first student to use these is that they are very helpful. There are about 12 hours of video programs on the general topics, with another 12 hours of specific discipline topics. There are also online exam preparation materials (example: EIT Exam) — search the WEB for these, as the URLs change frequently.
8. What is the exam format? Is the rumor about a CHANGE IN EXAM FORMAT really true?
Before fall of 1996, the FE exam was the same for all engineering disciplines. But starting with the October 1996 exam, only the Morning session problems are the same for all engineering disciplines -- the Afternoon session is now specialized for each discipline (Discipline Specific). As noted above, one could opt to take the General exam, but the pass rate has generally been slightly higher on the DS exam--hence, most of our Mechanical Engineering students have been taking the ME DS exam. As to the exam format: the morning (general) session has 120 multiple choice problems, and the afternoon session (discipline-specific, or general) has 60 multiple choice problems. The afternoon problems are each worth 2 points, whereas the morning problems are each worth 1 point; hence, the morning and afternoon sessions have equal value. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so one would plan to answer ALL questions. Remember that you will be provided with a clean copy of the "official" FE Reference Manual, and may bring a battery-powered calculator, but no other references are allowed during the exam.
9. Is there any other information on the Internet about FE and PE licensing?
Washington State Department of Licensing's Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors has been expanding their website; at present it has the FE Exam Application Form for download — look for this site to expand. Professional Publications Inc., a provider of study guides and other exam/review materials, has a nice FAQ file, as well as online sample questions for which free access is provided. You should look at the National Society for Professional Engineers site too.
Addresses and phone numbers related to professional engineering licensing
To apply to take FE or PE exams
State of Washington, Department of Licensing
P.O. Box 48001
Olympia, WA 98504-8001
Phone: (360) 664-1575
Online: http://www.dol.wa.gov/engineers/engfront.htm
For sample exam materials and FE Reference Manual
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
280 Seneca Road
P.O. Box 1686
Clemson, SC 29633-1686
Phone: (803) 654-6824 (ext. 233 for publication orders)
Online: http://www.ncees.org
Fax: (803) 654-6003
NOTE: NCEES materials are now available from PPI.
To purchase review manuals and
other reference and sample materials
Check our WSU-TC Student Bookstore ("Bookie") or contact
Professional Publications, Inc.
1250 Fifth Avenue
Belmont, CA 94002
Phone: (800) 426-1178 or (650) 593-9119
Online: http://www.ppi2pass.com
NSPE: National Society of Professional Engineers
http://www.nspe.org