Late News.

Students may sit for the exam in their Jr. or Sr. year however you will not receive your EIT certificate until you graduate and send final, official transcripts to:

Engineering Examination Services
Attn: PA Eng/Surv Coordinator
P.O. Box 198689
Nashville, TN 37219-8689.

Transcripts may be requested through the Registrar’s web site, http://www.registrar.psu.edu/

Background

The College of Engineering encourages all students to take the Fundamentals of Engineering, FE, Examination as a first step toward professional registration. For information about professional registration, examination dates, etc. click here.

Students may take the FE exam. during their junior year, but many prefer to wait until their senior year.  It is a decision you should make based on the material covered on the exam., whether you plan to take the discipline-specific afternoon session, etc.  If in doubt, check with the Advising Center or your Department.  In any case, you should take the FE examination by the end of your senior year because: your problem-solving skills are at a peak, you are more familiar with the material, and, if you don't do it now, you probably never will.  Following are support services and information for students taking the examination.

Services available from the Engineering C&DE Office

The Engineering Continuing and Distance Education, C&DE, office provides the following services to support Penn Students taking the FE Examination.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Engineering C&DE office or your Department.  We'll be happy to help you.

Information about the FE Examination

The Fundamentals of Engineering, FE, examination is a national examination constructed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, NCEES.  The exam. is administered twice each year, in the Spring and Fall -- usually April and October.   

The examination consists of two, four-hour, timed sessions - morning and afternoon.  The morning session has 120 questions worth one point each, covering general engineering subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Static's, etc.  The afternoon session has 60 questions worth two points each.  Each question offers four answer choices (A-D), from which the one best answer must be selected.  In the afternoon, the student has the option of continuing with general topics or choosing a discipline-specific exam. Discipline-specific examinations are currently available in: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering.  For information about the examination, the subjects covered, and the percentage of questions on various topics, go to the NCEES home page and follow the links to Fundamentals Info and the Fundamentals Examination

The only reference you will be allowed to use during the examination is the Fundamentals of Engineering Supplied-Reference Handbook.  We strongly recommend that you obtain a copy of this handbook and become familiar with its layout and contents, prior to the examination.  Otherwise, you will waste valuable time trying to locate the equations or information you need for a particular problem.  You can view the Reference Handbook or order a copy from the NCEES.  At the prior link, you will also find a list of other FE study materials available from NCEES. You cannot take your handbook into the examination.  You will be given a clean copy at the exam.  You must turn that copy in, at the end of the exam.

Study guides are available for the FE exam. - check the on-line book sellers and your local book store. One of the largest publishers of study guides is Professional Publications.  Their web site contains an Engineering Exam. Forum (message board) and an Exam. FAQ section, in addition to their product catalog.  NCEES also has a large selection of study materials available.  Click here to go to NCEES's FE Study Materials web page. Locally, Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honors Fraternity offers review materials at a 10% student discount. See their web site, http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/chi_epsilon.html, for details.

Beware!  NCEES allows only a few specific calculators to be used for the examinations. See the list of approved calculators at http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/.  If you bring a calculator that is not on the approved list to the exam, you will not be allowed to bring it into the room and you will have to take the exam without a calculator. Only a few makes and models are approved, so do not assume that yours is approved  -- check.

Beware!  In addition to the calculator restrictions, NCEES also prohibits in the exam room: "Any device having a QWERTY keypad arrangement similar to a typewriter or keyboard is prohibited. Devices with communication capabilities are prohibited. These include but are not limited to cameras; cell phones; desktop, hand-help, laptop, and palmtop computers; databanks; data collectors; organizers; pagers or beepers; PDAs; radios; headsets; tape players; portable fax machines; calculator watches; reproduction equipment; electronic dictionaries; electronic translators; and recorders." You cannot bring pencils, lead, or erasers to the exam. Pencils and erasers will be supplied.  Click here for details.

Applying to take the exam.

You must apply to take the examination.  Application forms are available in the department offices or the Engineering C&DE office. The completed application form along with your payment must be submitted to your department or the Engineering C&DE office by the established deadline.  If you are a Penn State student at University Park, the deadline is ten working days prior to either December 1, for the Spring exam, or July 1, for the Fall exam.  We will gather all applications and submit them in one packet.

Students who are currently enrolled must submit a Report of Student Status form with their application. This form has to be processed by the University and have the University seal embossed on it. The Engineering C&DE, office is the focal point for this service.

If you are a student at University Park who is submitting an application through a department, you must complete Section 1 of the Report of Student Status form, write your PSU student ID number at the top of the form, and submit it to the department with the other application materials. When the C&DE office receives the applications from the departments, we will complete Section 2 of the form and submit it for you.

If you are a student at University Park who is not submitting an application through a department, you must complete Section 1 of the Report of Student Status form, write your PSU student ID number at the top of the form, and bring it to the CE office in 301 Engineering Unit C.  We will complete Section 2 of the form and submit it for you. Helpful Hint: Do not go to the Registrar's office in Shields building and ask them to complete the form, as they will only send you back to the CE office, and you will have wasted considerable time and energy.

If you are a student at a Penn State location other than University Park, complete Section 1 of the Report of Student Status form, write your PSU student ID number at the top of the form, and take it to your Registrar's office. They will complete Section 2 and send the form to the Engineering CE office for application of the University seal.

The Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists has engaged Professional Credential Services, PCS, for application processing, examination administration, and score reporting of the engineering and land surveying examinations. Engineering Examination Services, a division of PCS, coordinates the examinations. If you want to apply to take the engineer and land surveyor examinations in Pennsylvania, contact:

Engineering Examination Services
PA Engineering Coordinator
PO Box 198689
Nashville, TN 37219-8689
Phone: 877-ENG-EXAM (877-364-3926) or 615-880-4226
Fax: 615-846-0153
Email: paengcord@pcshq.com

Click here to link to the EES's  web site for the Pennsylvania Fundamentals of Engineering, FE, exam,  The web site has  information particular to Pennsylvania's requirements plus downloadable application forms.

Click here to link to the Pennsylvania Board's Home Page.

Click here for a link to the Pennsylvania Board's page on licensure information.

Tau Beta Pi review course

Every Spring and Fall, shortly before the FE exam. date, Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering honorary society, sponsors a series of evening review sessions for Penn State students.  Look for postings on the Engineering bulletin boards, or contact Tau Beta Pi to see when and where the reviews are being held.

Review materials

Review manuals and materials are available from many sources, including the bookstores and various student organizations. For example, Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering Honors Fraternity offers review materials at a 10% student discount. See their web site, http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/chi_epsilon.html, for details. NCEES also offers study materials for their exams. See their study materials at http://www.ncees.org/exams/study_materials/#fls.

It would be wise to become familiar with the FE Supplied-Reference Handbook, the only reference you are allowed to use during the exam. You can view and purchase a copy of the Handbook at http://www.ncees.org/exams/study_materials/#fls. You cannot take your copy of the Handbook into the exam. You will be given one at the door to use during the exam. 

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers.  Also, check Professional Publications' FE FAQ site.  It has lots of excellent information - much more than we could ever cover here.

Q: What is the FE exam?
A: It is the first step in professional licensure/registration.  It tests one's knowledge of basic engineering subjects.  Persons who pass the examination are classified as an Engineering Intern.

Q: When can I take the FE exam?
A: Pennsylvania will allow juniors to sit for the exam.  However, it may be best to wait until you are a senior.

Q: Why should I take the exam now?
A: As a student, your problem solving skills are at a peak.  Plus, the material you will be tested on is still relatively fresh in your mind -- how much are you really going to remember about Chemistry in five years?  Plus, you have a university support network to help you with the application process and subject review.

Q: How do I apply to take the exam.?
A: Get an application form from your department or the Engineering C&DE office.  Complete the form, and return it with your certified check or money order.  The college will collect and mail the applications for you.

Q: What are the application deadlines?
A: To apply to take the exam. in Pennsylvania, a completed application, with fee, must be mailed to Engineering Examination services by the postmarked filing dates of December 1, for the April exam. and July 1, for the October exam. If you're mailing the application yourself, have the post office clerk hand stamp the postmark on your application envelope. If you are submitting your application through the College of Engineering departments or Continuing Education office, we need your application materials at least a week prior to the dates above.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The current fee is $175.

Q: Can I take the exam. if my program is not yet ABET accredited?
A: Different states have different rules concerning ABET accreditation of programs.  The Pennsylvania Board tends to take a black and white approach - if your program is not ABET accredited, you cannot sit for the FE.  On the other hand, the Maryland Board's application form allows for review of curricula from non-ABET-accredited programs to determine if the individual has the necessary qualifications to sit for the exam.

Q: When and where is the exam given?
A: The FE exam is given on a Saturday in various Penn State classrooms.  It is also given at other sites throughout the state - see the application form. 

Q: When will I hear that I have been approved to take the exam?
A: This is a case where no news is good news. If there is a problem with your application, you will hear from Engineering Examination Services, EES, within a month or two of the application deadline. Otherwise, you will hear nothing until a week or two before the examination date. Then, you will receive information telling you where to report for the exam.

Q: What percent of Penn State students pass the FE exam?
A: Results vary slightly from year to year, but the pass rate for Penn State students is slightly higher than the comparable national average.  So, if you adequately prepare, your chances of passing are very good. However, don't be complacent in preparing for the exam. Do at least the following to enhance your chances of passing:

Q: I don't live in Pennsylvania or I don't plan to live here after I graduate -- can I still take the exam here, and, if I pass, will my intern status be recognized by the state where I live or work?
A: First, you can take the examination here in Pennsylvania.  Second, according to the NCEES, the FE examination is accepted in all 50 states and 5 US jurisdictions, regardless of where you took the examination.  All a candidate needs to do when applying to take the PE is identify when and where they took the FE.  The State Board to which they are applying can then verify the information.  (One word of caution here - some states, Florida for example, do not permit graduates of Engineering Technology programs to sit for the PE examination or to be licensed in that state.  When in doubt check with the state licensing board.)

Q: Is there a penalty for incorrect answers?
A: According to the NCEES's FE General Engineering Exam Sample Questions & Solutions publication, "No points are subtracted for incorrect answers.  "Therefore, it is to your advantage to answer every question."

Q: I'm not in State College, at the present time, so I can't get an FE application form or turn it in to my department; however, I want to apply to take the exam.  What should I do?
A: You can do the following:

Q:  What if I don't pass the exam.; can I take it again the next time it is given?
A:  We understand that persons who do not pass the exam. are so notified and given an extension to the application deadline so they can sign up to take the next exam.

Q: I applied once and was approved to take the exam., but I either didn't take it or I have to retake it. Do I have to submit another Record of Student Status form?
A: If you have not graduated, you will have to submit another Record of Student Status form.

Q:  I applied to take the exam., but now I have a conflict and can't take it. What are the rules in this case?
A:  We have been told that the following rules apply. First, you have to notify Engineering Examination Services that you will not be taking the exam. We suggest that you call them, explain your situation, and follow their instructions. If you withdraw 45 or more days before the date of the exam., you will receive a refund of $85.00. They keep the one-time application fee of $25.00 and a $65.00 processing fee. You can reschedule the exam at a later date, using the reschedule form. If you are within the 45 days of the exam., call and explain your situation. It is considerate to let them know you won't be taking the exam., and, for certain, serious situations, they may consider waiving the 45-day requirement for a partial refund.

Q: Are there restrictions on what calculators can be used during the exam?
A: Yes. Calculators with communication or text editing capabilities will be banned from all NCEES exam sites. If you bring a non-approved calculator to the examination, you will not be permitted to bring it into the room or use it for the exam. Each year, NCEES reviews and revises the list of approved calculators and announces an updated list by November 15. See: NCEES Calculator Policy FAQ for a list of the approved calculators.

Banned calculators include, but are not limited to, the following models:

Q: What do I do with the Report of Student Status form that is included with the FE application materials?

A: You complete section 1 only, and either bring the form to the Engineering Continuing Education office or submit it with your application to your department. The Engineering Continuing Education office will perform the necessary checks and verifications; complete section 2 of the form; and submit it directly to Engineering Examination Services. The University Registrar’s office will not complete this form. If you take it to the Registrar’s office, they will send you to the Engineering office.

Q: Can I print out a record of enrollment from E-Lion and submit it in place of the Report of Student Status form?

A: No.

Q: When will I receive notice that my application was accepted?

A: Generally, in this case, no news is good news.  You will be contacted if there are problems; otherwise, the only communication you will receive is a notice telling you where to report to take the exam. (see next item).

Q: When will I receive a notice telling me where to report to take the examination?

A: Typically, these are mailed from Tennessee about two and a half weeks before the examination date.  Note that they are mailed to the address you put on your application; so, if you put your home address on the application, have someone there look out for the material and notify you when it arrives.  If you haven't heard anything by the Monday prior to the exam, call Engineering Examination Services at 877-364-3926.

Q: When will I receive the results of my FE examination?

A: You will be notified by mail about two months after you have taken the exam.

Q: I’ve received notice that I passed the FE exam, but that I’ve been told to submit an official transcript showing I have graduated in order to receive my Engineer In Training certificate. How do I do this?

A: To order a transcript, go to the Registrar’s home page, http://www.psu.edu/registrar/, and follow the link to ordering transcripts. You should request the transcript only after you’ve graduated.  Transcripts are to be mailed by the registrar directly to:

Engineering Examination Services (EES)

Attn: PA ENG/SURV Coordinator

P.O Box 198689

Nashville, TN 37219-8689