FE Exam Fundamentals

W. J. Wilson Dept of Engineering & Physics University of Central Oklahoma

BENEFITS OF BECOMING A PE
Stamp and seal designs Bid for government contracts Be principal of a firm Perform consulting engineering services Offer engineering services to the public Additional Employment Opportunities Increased Job Security Promotion / Career Advancement Added Respect / Self-Satisfaction
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PE Licensure Process
1. Earn a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. 2. Pass the FE exam. 3. Gain acceptable work experience (typically a minimum of four years). In most cases, this must be completed under the supervision of a P.E. 4. Pass the PE exam in the appropriate discipline. 5. PE License Awarded 6. Continuing Education and Professional Development Hours (PDH) - Typically, 30 PDH every two years
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State Regs for Becoming a P.E.

Governed by State Registration Board of each state and U.S. territory Specific requirements vary by State, but virtually all require passing FE and PE exams Continuing Education and Professional Development Hours (PDH) to maintain PE license
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Typical State Requirements

Graduate from an ABET-accredited engineering program Pass FE exam Obtain four to six years of applicable engineering experience Pass PE Exam Ability to apply for and obtain licensure in other states by reciprocity
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FE Exam Administration
The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is the exam administrator. Volunteers from all over the U.S. help write exam questions. NCEES Address:
National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying 280 Seneca Creek Road Seneca, SC 29678 Tel: 800-250-3196 Web: www.ncees.org
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Oklahoma FE Exam Administration & Registration

Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Address: Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Oklahoma Engineering Center, Room 120 201 NE 27th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Tel: (405) 521-2874 Web: www.pels.ok.gov
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How do I register for the FE Exam?

1. Apply to the Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for approval to sit for the exam in Oklahoma. 2. After the board has notified you of your approval, register online with NCEES to register for the exam.
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When Can I Take the FE Exam?

FE exam is given twice each year. Application deadline and exam date varies slightly from year to year but exam is usually in October and April. FE Exam Date Oct 29-30, 2010 Application Deadline August 1, 2010 (Deadline has Passed) February 1, 2011

April 8-9, 2011

Where Can I Take the Exam?

Location
University of Central Oklahoma

Exams Offered
FE, PE, FS, PS

Oklahoma State University (Current Students Only)

FE

University of Oklahoma (Current Students Only)

FE

University of Tulsa (Current Students Only)

FE

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How Much Does it COST?

EXAM FE COST Application Fee $25 Exam Fee $55

PE

Application Fee $100 Exam Fee $195

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What to Expect on the FE Exam

8 Hours long AM and PM Sessions (Each 4 hours) Multiple Choice Format Is a test of Engineering Fundamentals Given twice per year

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FORMAT
Morning (AM) Part
120 questions in 4 hours, 2 minutes per question General subjects covered in the lower division courses The morning session is the same for everyone

Afternoon (PM) Part

60 questions in 4 hours, 4 minutes per question Concepts covered in the upper division courses Choice of discipline specific exam in Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, Other Disciplines Other Disciplines exam is a general exam similar to the one in the morning. This is intended for students who do not fall under any of the disciplines covered in the other discipline speific exams
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AM Part - General Subjects

Area Mathematics Engineering Probability & Statistics Chemistry Computers Ethics and Business Practices Engineering Economics Statics and Dynamics Strength of Materials Materials Properties Fluid Mechanics Electricity and Magnetism Thermodynamics # of Questions 19 8 11 8 8 10 13 8 8 8 11 8
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PM Part
Choose One Discipline Specific Exam from Chemical Civil Industrial Electrical Mechanical Other Disciplines (General)

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Area # of Questions Advanced Engineering Mathematics 6 Engineering Probability and Statistics 5 Biology 3 Engineering Economics 6 Application of Engineering Mechanics 8 Engineering of Materials 7 Fluids 9 Electricity and Magnetism 7 Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer 9
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PM Part - Other Disciplines (General)

PM Part - ME Discipline Specific

Area Advanced Engineering Mathematics Engineering Probability and Statistics Chemistry Computers Engineering Ethics Engineering Economics Application of Engineering Mechanics Strengths of Materials Engineering of Materials Fluid Mechanics Electricity and Magnetism Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer # of Questions 9 4 5 4 4 5 6 5 4 5 5 4
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PM Part - EE Discipline Specific

Area Circuits Power Electromagnetics Control Systems Communications Signal Processing Electronics Digital Systems Computer Systems # of Questions 10 8 4 6 5 5 9 7 6
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EXAM Scoring
Morning part - 1 point each question Afternoon part - 2 points each question Raw score is 240 points From exam history, a raw passing score is not 70% of the total 240 points, but ~50-55% Raw passing score is scaled to 70. Raw passing score in the past has been roughly 50-60%, but may be higher
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Pass Rate for FE Exam

Must make adjusted score 70% or better Diagnostics are applied
Unfair problems are eliminated Possibility of multiple correct answers Score determined after bad problems are eliminated

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2010 FE Exam Pass Rates

Engr Major First Attempt Biomedical 81% Chemical 79% Civil 70% Electrical 61% Industrial 69% Mechanical 84% Engineering Physics 80% Average Pass ~70% Repeat 33% 41% 29% 24% 33% 41% 18% ~30%
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On Exam Day
Arrive about 15-30 minutes early Do bring calculator and spare battery Do bring number 2 pencils (mechanical HB works best) Do dress comfortably (layer) Do not bring scratch paper Do not bring reference book
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What to Bring to the FE Exam

For admission, you must bring:
Your exam authorization notice. In most cases, this will be available for download via your My NCEES account 23 weeks prior to the exam date. A few states will mail authorization notices to your physical address. Check your states registration page for details. A current, signed, government-issued photo identification. This is typically a drivers license or passport. The first and last name on the photo ID must match the name on the exam authorization notice. Note that a student ID card is not acceptable for admittance.
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Approved Calculators
To help protect exam content, NCEES only allows candidates to use certain calculator models. Candidates who are found using unapproved calculators after the exam has begun will be dismissed from the exam site.
Casio fx-115 HP 33s, HP 35s TI-30X, TI-36X
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How to Prepare for the FE

Take the exam seriously Spend some time reviewing for the exam Study review books Take some sample exams available from NCEES or various review books
Determine your areas of strength (and weakness) Set a goal of 60% correct on sample exams (Remember passing raw score is ~50% =120/240)

Attend review sessions / Online videos Familiarize yourself with the FE SuppliedReference Handbook Get a good nights sleep before the exam
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How to take the FE Exam

Start with questions in subject areas you are strongest in and work questions you are weakest in last Do not spend more than 3 minutes on a question (AM Exam) or 5 minutes on a question (PM Exam). Unless you are on the verge of a solution! About 15 minutes from end, stop and go back over questions that you have marked with ? About 5 minutes from end, mark all questions you have have not answered yet by random guess. There is no penalty for guessing.
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Strategies for Taking the FE Exam

Watch the clock, time limits are strictly enforced Average of 2 minutes/problem in the AM Average of 4 minutes/problem in the PM Attack the areas you know best, first Save difficult problems for last

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Strategies for Taking the FE Exam

Think before you start a problem Is there an easy way to work this? If you dont know the correct answer, eliminate some incorrect answers Are any of the answers obviously wrong? Now, can you work backwards?

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Strategies for Taking the FE Exam

Make your best guess (may be your first guess), Mark with a ? and come back to it Make notes and best guess before moving on to the next question Answer each question
There is no penalty for an incorrect answer Your score is based on number of correct answers

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Handling Difficult Problems

If you have no clue at all:
Make your best guess Circle the problem number (or identify it some other way) to indicate you have no clue Come back to these problems only if have more time

Never leave a question unanswered

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Saving Time
Write the letter of the correct answer in the margin on the test booklet At the end of the page, transcribe the answers to the answer sheet Do this one page at a time. Do not do this for the entire exam and then attempt to transfer the answers
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Units
In the morning some problems are given in both SI and US units
Work what you are most comfortable with

Most afternoon exams will be SI only so be prepared

Civil exam uses both sets of units for some topic areas

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Terminology
Not everyone uses the same terminology Try to be familiar with other nomenclature Focus on the problem; do you know it by another name?

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Reference Manual
Be familiar with its organization Where are your most frequently used equations? What data will you use the most? Not necessarily a good idea to study by the reference manual

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Work Out Of Sequence

Problems tend to be grouped in sections Work what you know best, first Save the most difficult for last If you dont know it, guess

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Write Out the Problem

Work in the test booklet Solving problems in your head may not be the fastest way Make sure you record your answer on the answer sheetgraders do not look at your test booklet

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What If You Do Not Pass?

Take it again
Exam is offered twice a year Review and study for the next time

No adverse information is placed on your record

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Im not going to work in Oklahoma when I graduate, should I wait to take the exam in another state?

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No!
The FE is a national exam and your score can be reported to any state in which you wish to become registered. Not taking the exam now will only make it more difficult for you in the future.

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