FE exam requirements in

every U.S. state

The FE exam is the first step to becoming a fully licensed engineering professional. After completing FE and work experience requirements, you will be eligible to obtain your professional engineer (PE) designation, which grants professionals the ability to sign and seal documents, take legal responsibility for engineering projects, and lead teams across the sector.

1. Complete your education requirements: Start the process by earning a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited program. Generally, you may major in engineering or a closely related field such as mathematics or chemistry. Special accommodations apply for international and graduate students.
2. Pass the FE exam: Study for and pass the FE exam in your discipline (such as Civil or Mechanical Engineering).
3. Gain work experience: Fulfill four years of progressive engineering work experience under the supervision of a licensed PE. This stage forms the practical component of the standard engineering track.
4. Pass the PE exam: Successfully prepare for and pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. Like the FE exam, the PE is offered in several specialties.

Altogether, candidates often spend between eight and ten years attaining full PE licensure, including obtaining their engineering degree and fulfilling both professional assessments. Of course, the timeline can vary based on individual study schedules, exam preparation, and the pace at which required experience is obtained.

Yes: you can be licensed in multiple states. Many states use comity/endorsement, where you apply to a new state board using an existing license, exam score, and work history. Exams are offered across the U.S., and you do not need to retest if you move to a different state.

You may use the NCEES Records Program to easily access your documents, though you will need to apply to each board individually. Creating a Record is free; NCEES charges $175 for the first comity transmittal and $100 for each subsequent transmittal.

Note that the FE exam does not vary by state: the format and passing thresholds are consistent across jurisdictions.

In most cases, the FE exam is available to graduates of accredited undergraduate engineering programs or those nearing graduation. International and graduate students may qualify for special accommodations, depending on state regulations.

The passing score for the FE exam varies with each exam cycle. NCEES uses a psychometrically scaled scoring system that adjusts for exam difficulty and test-taker performance. Raw scores, representing the number of correctly answered questions, are converted into scaled scores to decide if a candidate passes or fails.

Minimum passing scores are not publicly available, but it’s recommended to target a raw score of at least 70%.

To take the FE exam, first check whether your state requires pre-approval. Afterward, you can sign up directly with the NCEES, pay your exam fee, pick a local Pearson VUE testing center, and choose a date. All exams are offered year-round at participating testing sites.

The FE Reference Handbook for your chosen test can be downloaded directly from your NCEES account and is an instrumental tool in your exam preparation. Don’t forget to practice with an approved calculator and bring one on test day. While the test allots five hours and 20 minutes to answering questions, be prepared for your total appointment to run about six hours once you account for the tutorial, a scheduled break, and other instructions.

The FE exam is the baseline requirement to becoming an engineer-in-training, and eventually a professional engineer in the U.S. While you can work as an engineer without taking the FE exam, you may risk opportunities that are only open to those who have passed the test, as FE exams demonstrate competency in specific engineering areas. Exam waivers may apply to those on the PE pathway with advanced work or education experience, though you will always need to formally apply and petition your state’s licensing board.

Most experts and educators suggest taking the FE exam in your final college semester or soon after graduation, when your core coursework is still recent. However, many engineers take the test after entering the workforce; if this is the path you choose, make sure you dedicate time to studying and refreshing your knowledge before you take the exam.

Outside the U.S., NCEES exams are available in select foreign countries, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE (Sharjah), Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, as well as in some Canadian provinces. Similar to domestic candidates, you need to apply for licensure in a specific state to achieve full PE certification in the U.S.

Since many international candidates hold degrees from programs not accredited by ABET (the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), they must formally apply and petition their state’s licensing board and undergo independent evaluation.