Fundamentals of Engineering information for CEE students
Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam Information for CEE Students
FE FAQs:
What is the FE?
The FE exam is typically the first step in the process leading to the P.E. license. It is designed for students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree. The exam lasts 8 hours and is administered in April and October. Students can sit for the exam when they are near completion of their BS degree or have graduated from an ABET-accredited institution, like PSU. Read more about the FE exam on the NCEES website.
When do I sign up for the FE?
There are two FE exam dates per year, in April and October. You can see the schedule for exams on the OSBEELS website. Most BSCE and BSENVE students choose to take the FE Exam during the spring term of their senior year if they plan to graduate spring or summer terms. Students in their senior year who plan to graduate after summer term should take the October exam instead. Students must have a degree or be set to earn their degree within 4 months of taking the exam. Applications for the spring exam are due to OSBEELS by December 1st of the preceding year; applications for the October exam are due by June 1st of the same year.
How do I sign up for the FE?
It is important to note that the FE exam is administered state-by-state by state agencies: here in Oregon, the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) oversees the FE Exam. Applications for the exam can be found on the OSBEELS website, and should be downloaded from that source to make sure it is the most current version. You fill out the first 4 pages, and submit the application no later than November 1st for the spring exam, or April 1st for the fall exam, to the CEE Department Front Desk. The Department will verify that you are eligible to graduate within the time allowed, sign, stamp, and return the application to the front desk in an envelope with your name on it for pick up during normal CEE office hours. That is the end of the CEE Department's involvement in your FE Exam application or experience.
It is the your responsibility to pick up the application and submit it to OSBEELS along with the exam application fee of $35 by the deadline: December 1st for spring exams, June 1st for fall exams. (This is also a great time to apply for your degree! Find out more here!)
Students who have already graduated from an ABET-accredited BSCE or BSENVE program do not need the CEE Department to verify anything on the application. They fill out the application and submit it with a copy of their official transcripts from the awarding institution.
Next Steps:
Once your application has been received by OSBEELS, they will contact you directly to give you information about how to register for the exam. Any questions about this process or expected response time line should be directed to OSBEELS. The CEE Department does not have any oversight over this.
Preparation:
The CEE Department has an excellent pass rate for current students sitting for the FE Exam. Historically, we have led the national average by between 10 and 20 points. That's all to say that the studying you've been doing all along is meant to prepare you for your career, which includes sitting for and passing the FE Exam. But many students want an opportunity to review pertinent information prior to taking the FE Exam.
The CEE Department offers an FE Exam Review course every winter term, prior to the spring exam. This course is a seminar-style, non-credit course, with each section taught by a faculty expert in that area. You can find out more about this review course here.
Exam day information:
The NCEES sets exam day policies. Familiarize yourself with this information before the exam so you can be ready when the day arrives!
Exams are held in Salem, so plan accordingly.
So you took your exam, now what?
Yay! You took the exam! OSBEELS will release your test results as soon as you provide them with official documentation showing you have earned a BSCE or BSENVE degree from an ABET-accredited institution. If you are a current PSU student, check your unofficial transcripts online: login in to banweb.pdx.edu and use your ODIN login information to get to your personal information. As soon as your transcripts show awarded degree information, including the date awarded, your official transcripts will too! That's the time to get the official copy sent to OSBEELS! You can learn more about requesting transcripts here.
OSBEELS is a state agency, and they are really strict about deadlines. Please familiarize yourself with their rules so you aren't surprised by the deadlines and rules when they come up. Here is a helpful link to various Oregon Administrative Rules, as they apply to the FE exam.
OSBEELS Contact Information
Website: http://cms.oregon.gov/Osbeels/Pages/index.aspx
Mailing address:
670 Hawthorne Ave SE, Suite 220
Salem, OR 97301
Hours of Operation
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Email: osbeels@osbeels.org
Phone: 503-362-2666
Fax: 503-362-5454
