Are you ready for the FE Exam? Take a practice test and find out!
Passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step towards becoming a professional licensed engineer (PE).
Taking this step is not easy, even for those who recently completed their engineering degree. According to the most recent data available from NCEES, just 69% of FE-Civil candidates and 68% of FE-Other Disciplines candidates passed the exam the first time.
To help you check your FE readiness, our FE Exam Prep class instructors created free practice tests for the Civil and Other Disciplines exams.
The FE practice tests can help you
- Check your knowledge: the practice tests include 13 questions, similar to those you may see on the FE Exam. The practice questions cover a variety of FE Exam subjects, so you can get a sense of what the real exam may look like.
- Check your speed: On average, you will have about 3 minutes to answer each question on the real FE Exam. To help you check your speed, the practice tests include a timer and will show your average answer speed.
You can choose to take the FE-Civil or FE-Other Disciplines practice test.
If you want to review before taking the real FE Exam, University of Arizona Continuing and Professional Education offers a fully online FE Exam Prep course twice a year, in the spring and fall semesters.
The course includes full coverage of the topics on the FE-Civil and FE-Other Disciplines exams, plus practical test-taking strategies to help you maximize your chance at passing the FE exam the first time.
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam FAQs
If you have a 4-year engineering degree or 4 years of documented work experience in the engineering field, passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step in the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE).
The FE exam is prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Upon passing the FE exam, you can become an Engineer in Training (EIT). After a few years as an EIT, you can apply to take the PE exam to become a licensed professional engineer.
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the FE Exam and the FE Exam Prep course.
FE Exam FAQs
Do I need a 4-year degree in order to take the FE exam?
No. While the 4-year degree is one way to qualify for the FE Exam in Arizona, the Arizona Board of Technical Registration does not require a degree from an accredited program to take the FE exam.
You may also apply for approval to sit for the FE exam if you have 4 years of documented relevant engineering experience.
Do I need to apply to take the FE exam in Arizona?
Yes. In Arizona, all candidates must apply for Arizona Board of Technical Registrations authorization before taking the FE exam. The application is available on the Arizona Board of Technical Registrations Exam Authorization website.
NOTE: according to the Arizona Board of Technical Registrations, the review and approval process for applications "...may take eight to twelve weeks depending on the applicant’s qualifications and timely submission of required documents."
For the most up-to-date information about the exam registration process and licensing requirements in Arizona, please visit the Arizona Board of Technical Registrations website.
Does military experience count towards the FE exam authorization or Engineer in Training licensing requirements?
In Arizona, those that received "substantially equivalent education, training or experience as a member of the United States armed forces or any national guard or other reserve component" may meet the Arizona education and/or experience requirements for testing authorization and engineer licensing.
Active duty service members and veterans can contact the Arizona State Board of Technical Registrations to learn more.
Who can take the FE exam in other states?
The process and requirements vary by state. You can visit the NCEES website for information about the exam authorization and registration process in different states.
How much does the FE exam cost?
As of April 2024, the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam costs $225. The Arizona Board of Technical Registrations application fee is $100, as of April 2024.
When and where can I take the FE exam?
The FE exam is administered year-round. You can take the FE exam at any NCEES-approved Pearson VUE test center. Search for a nearby Pearson VUE test center.
Is the FE exam in English?
Yes, the exam will be given in the English language.
FE Exam Prep FAQs
What is the FE Exam Prep course?
The FE Exam Prep course gets you ready to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil or Other Disciplines Exam. It includes lectures, weekly assignments, study sessions and practice exams.
How often is the FE Exam Prep course offered?
FE Exam Prep is offered twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. See upcoming FE class dates.
Can I take this course while I am employed or in school?
Yes, anyone is welcome to take the course. There are no prerequisites for those who wish to take the FE course.
How much does the course cost?
As of April 2024, the fee for the course is $899.
Are there discounts available for the FE Exam Prep course?
Yes. Discounted pricing is available for:
- University of Arizona, Arizona State University (ASU), and Northern Arizona University (NAU) students are eligible for a 50% discount - the discount will be applied automatically based on questions you answer during registration
- University of Arizona, ASU and NAU alumni are eligible for a 10% discount - the discount will be applied automatically based on questions you answer during registration
- Military-connected learners are eligible for a 50% discount - the discount will be applied automatically based on questions you answer during registration
- FE learners referred by refugee-serving community organizations are eligible for a 50% discount - contact the FE course Program Coordinator to learn more
- Members of specific professional organizations may be eligible for a 10% discount - contact the FE course Program Coordinator to learn more
(Only one discount can be applied per registration).
Is there financial aid available for the FE Exam Prep course?
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding for this class may be available for unemployed or dislocated workers and other eligible applicants. Contact your local One-Stop Service Center to learn more about Arizona workforce development program eligibility.
Can I use military education program funding for the course?
The FE Exam Prep course is approved for Air Force COOL and Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) funding for eligible service members.
Stand Out from the Crowd with a Certification
Professional certifications show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills to get the job done. They can even increase your chances of getting hired or promoted.
Holding an up-to-date certification is a great way to demonstrate that your knowledge is current and relevant (particularly important in rapidly-evolving fields like IT). Most certification programs require you to re-certify periodically or require that you complete continuing education activities to maintain your certification.
How Do You Get a Professional Certification?
There are many different certifications out there, but most of them require you to pass a comprehensive certification exam to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and abilities.
Some certifying organizations may have additional requirements, such as work experience and/or education.
Many certifications are also "stackable," so you can earn more advanced credentials as your knowledge and experience increase.
Popular Certification Programs
Here are some of the popular certification programs offered by Continuing & Professional Education.
Information Technology
IT certifications not only help you stand out in a crowd of other applications, they are actually required by many employers, particularly for government IT jobs.
Our CompTIA certification programs are particularly popular. CompTIA offers an internationally recognized vendor-neutral certification program for IT professionals.
The core certifications are CompTIA Network+ and Security+. From there, you can earn more advanced CompTIA credentials to continue to advance your IT career. Browse all CompTIA training or all IT certification training.
Not sure which certification is right for you? Check out the top IT certifications in Arizona and in the U.S.
Human Resources
Experienced Human Resources professionals who want to demonstrate their HR expertise can earn the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional or Senior Certified Professional. The Human Resources (SHRM) Certification Exam Prep course combines expert instruction from a SHRM-SCP with the proven SHRM Learning System to get you ready to pass your exam.
Learn more about SHRM certification, or register for SHRM certification exam prep.
Project Management
Project management is one of the most in-demand skills nation-wide. And the Project Management Professional (PMP) is the gold standard of project management certifications. It is so valuable, that certified PMPs report earning 26% more than those without certification. Learn more about project management certifications or browse all project management certification training options.
Engineering
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is the first step towards becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Prep is taught by a licensed PE and will get you ready to take the Civil Engineering or "Other Disciplines" FE Exam.
More Certification Programs
These are just a few of the in-demand certifications you can earn through Continuing & Professional Education programs.
High Demand for Project Managers in Arizona
Project management is highly in demand among Arizona employers, with over 52,000 job postings asking for project management skills in the past year alone.
Just about every industry you can think of hires project managers, making project management skills highly transferable across the country (and even around the world).
Project management certification demonstrates that you have the skills and knowledge to manage projects from start to finish. This can give you an edge in the hiring process and increase your earning potential:
- In Arizona, 1 in 3 project manager job postings asked for project management certification in the past year.
- According to a Project Management Institute survey, certified project managers report earning significantly more than those that are not certified.
For experienced project managers, the Project Management Professional (PMP®) is the "gold standard" of project management certifications. See upcoming PMP Exam Prep classes.
The Project Management Professional (PMP) is a registered mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.
Building Bridges to New Engineering Careers
Bill O'Brien loves water. As the owner and Principal Engineer of NextGen Engineering, he specializes in sustainable water resource and civil engineering projects. "Put me in a wadi or a barranca or an arroyo, and I'm happy," he says.
But that's not the only thing he loves about his work. He says that people who care about water also tend to care deeply about their communities. And to him, "people are what count in the engineering world, more than the projects we build."
Training the Next Generation
NextGen Engineering's mission is two-fold: planning and implementing sustainable engineering projects and training the next generation of water resource professionals.
NextGen's training programs include an active internship program and a Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam Preparation class.
Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam is the first step in becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE). The 15-week FE Exam Prep course includes lectures, weekly study sessions, and practice exams to prepare participants to take the FE exam.
Everyone is Welcome
In Arizona, FE Exam applicants must have a 4-year engineering degree or 4 years of documented work experience in the field.
While many FE Exam Prep class participants have been University of Arizona College of Engineering students or recent graduates, those with non-U.S. engineering degrees or work experience are also welcome in the class.
In fact, one of the reasons Bill created the FE class was to help refugees and immigrants who were engineers in their home countries get re-certified as engineers in the U.S.
When he saw experienced engineering professionals unable to work as engineers after immigrating here, he wanted to help:
"It just breaks my heart sometimes...all the brains of a good engineer and they're pushing carts at Walmart. All that technical knowledge and experience is just being lost."
Bill's answer was to develop the FE Exam Preparation class. The FE Exam Prep class helps the next generation of engineers take an important step towards getting their engineering license, whether they have a U.S. or international engineering degree or experience.
Building Bridges, Not Walls
The seed for Bill's desire to work with refugees was planted while working in the Middle East for over a decade. While he was there, he learned to speak Arabic. He also saw first-hand what life was like for those living in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan.
Because of his language skills and experience living and working in the Middle East, Bill says it has been a natural fit to welcome refugee families to Tucson.
Bill says that when people arrive in a new country there are very few "bridge people" to welcome them and help them navigate an unfamiliar culture. He continues:
"When you're at the end of your life and look back... were you a bridge person or did you build walls? We definitely want to be bridge people. We want to welcome people and help them get started."
Bill and his wife are long-time volunteers in the Tucson refugee-serving community. The initial three FE Exam Prep classes were held at the Refugee Resource Center, and were co-written by Randiesia Fletcher, the Co-Founder of the Refugee Resource Center.