FE Civil
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam is the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer (P.E.). It is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an EAC/ABET-accredited program. The FE Civil exam is one of the discipline-specific FE options; it is a computer-based exam administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers, and the exam fee is $225, payable directly to NCEES. The exam includes 110 questions, and the exam appointment time is 6 hours long: a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, 5 hours and 20 minutes of exam time, and a 25-minute scheduled break. The FE Civil exam spans five areas: construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources and environmental engineering. To prepare, work through the NCEES FE Reference Handbook until you can navigate it quickly, review core civil engineering fundamentals in each of the five areas, and practice timed problem sets so you can pace yourself across the exam appointment. Results are typically available within 7–10 business days and are reported as pass or fail; if you fail, you will receive a diagnostic report showing your performance for each of the major topics covered on the exam.
What you'll study
About FE Civil preparation
What is the format of the FE Civil exam?
It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam administered year-round at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers. The exam includes 110 questions. The exam appointment time is 6 hours long and includes a nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), tutorial (8 minutes), exam (5 hours and 20 minutes), and scheduled break (25 minutes).
How much does it cost to register?
A $225 exam fee is payable directly to NCEES. Registration and scheduling are handled through your MyNCEES account, where you select your exam location and then choose from a list of available exam dates at NCEES-approved test centers.
When will I get my results?
Exam results are typically available within 7–10 business days. You will receive an email notification from NCEES with instructions to view your exam results in your MyNCEES account. All results are reported as pass or fail.
What happens if I fail?
You will receive a diagnostic report showing your performance for each of the major topics covered on the exam. Use it to identify the weakest subject areas before you register again. You will not receive a diagnostic report if you pass the examination.
What topics does the FE Civil exam cover?
The FE Civil exam covers five areas: construction, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources and environmental engineering. Build a study plan that gives each area real attention rather than concentrating only on the subject you studied most in school.
How should I order my studying?
Start with the NCEES FE Reference Handbook, since it is the only reference you will have during the exam. Then cycle through the five civil areas, doing timed problem sets so you build speed. Track which topics produce the most errors and revisit those before moving on.
Why do candidates run out of time?
The exam period is 5 hours and 20 minutes for 110 questions, so pacing matters. Common failure modes are hunting through the reference handbook for formulas instead of knowing where they are, and getting stuck on a single long problem instead of moving on and returning to it later.
Are accommodations available?
Reasonable accommodations are available for examinees who meet certain eligibility criteria and sufficiently document their request. If you believe you qualify, start the request process early rather than after you have scheduled your exam appointment.
How do I register and schedule my exam?
Examinees register and schedule appointments through their MyNCEES accounts. During registration you select your exam location, then you are presented with a list of available exam dates. If you are not happy with the choices, you can browse through the available dates at other NCEES-approved test centers.