Everything to Know about FE CBT Exams: Pass Rates, Exam Specs, and More

So, you're thinking about taking the FE exam? Great! You are on the first step of becoming a Professional Engineer. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE, previously known as EIT) exam "is designed for recent graduates and students who are close to finishing an undergraduate engineering degree from an EAC/ABET- accredited program," according to the NCEES. 

Since the FE exam is the first exam that an engineer needs to become licensed, it may seem a bit daunting. You may stare at the exam specifications for hours wondering how you can possibly review all of the course topics, and you may eventually decide to sign up for an FE exam prep course with high pass rates. 

No matter what studying strategy you decide to stick to, it is always important to have a good understanding of the exam itself. We've broken down some must-know details about the exam below: 

General Stats 

Number of Questions: 110 

Duration: 6 Hours 

Type of Exam: Computer 

Disciplines to Choose From: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Industrial, Mechanical, Other (General)

Location: Pearson VUE testing centers (must be NCEES-approved) 

Exam Specifications 

Each FE exam has separate exam specifications. Each exam specification outlines how the exam is laid out by number of questions per topic. All FE exams have sections dedicated to mathematics and engineering economics, but the other topics in each exam are discipline specific. Check out the exam specs below:

• FE Chemical
• FE Civil
• FE Electrical
• FE Environmental
• FE Industrial
• FE Mechanical
• FE Other

Pass RatesCheck out the national pass rates for all seven FE exams below. If the national pass rates worry you, School of PE's pass rates have been added, as well. Taking a review course can significantly increase the chances of a passing score.

Exam	National Pass Rate	School of PE Pass Rate
FE Chemical	74%	88%
FE Civil	69%	90%
FE Electrical	71%	91%
FE Environmental	76%	88%
FE Industrial	61%	86%
FE Mechanical	77%	90%
FE Other	74%	87%

Pros of Wind Energy: Wind Turbine Statistics

Renewable energy is trendy, and for good reason. Throughout the past few years, there has been a big push to make the world cleaner. Consumers are purchasing more eco-friendly vehicles, recycling more often, and using more natural cleaning products. 

When it comes to saving energy, wind turbines can help immensely. Did you know the average efficiency of a wind turbine creates enough energy for 500 homes? Check out some more wind turbine statistics in the infographic below. Although they may be loud, there are many pros of wind energy thanks to environmental engineering!

References

How powerful is wind energy? Retrieved from https://www.ecotechinstitute.com/ ecotech-news/how-powerful -is-wind-energy

Johnston, A. Wind Energy Economic Benefits Highlighted In AWEA Infographic. Retrieved from https://cleantechnica.com/ 2014/08/31/wind- energy-economic-benefits-infographic/ 

Continuing Education for Engineers: PDH State Board Requirements

For many state boards, engineer continuing education deadlines are approaching. Engineers in West Virginia, Vermont, and Iowa, for example, have continuing education deadlines at the end of December of this year. 

Currently, 42 out of the 50 state boards require some sort of continuing education. The continuing education requirements can include activities such as attending engineering PDH webinars, taking an online PDH course, or attending an engineering conference. When engineers participate in these continuing education activities, they can earn Professional Development Hour (PDH) credits. The amount of PDH credits needed to renew a professional license varies from state to state, but generally, states require an engineer to earn approximately 15 PDH credits annually for renewal. 

Check out the infographic to learn more about state board PDH requirements:

"Which FE Exam Should I Take?": Taking the FE Other Disciplines Exam in Undergraduate School

When I was a kid, I remember going to my family reunion every summer and getting asked TONS of questions about what I wanted to do with my life - more specifically, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" In the 4th grade, I wanted to be a teacher. But after that, I changed my mind practically every year. 

After going to college, transferring colleges, and changing my major, I finally decided what I wanted to do with my professional career. Since I'm writing this article now, you can probably guess that I have a background in journalism. And, if you're reading this, I can assume you are striving to become a professional engineer and are interested in learning about the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. 

I get it - choosing what to do with the rest of your life at 18 years old can be difficult, and somewhat impossible at times. Luckily, since you are interested in engineering, you have a little more time than other fields to decide what discipline to go into. If you are looking to take the FE exam, there are seven disciplines you may choose from:

• FE Chemical
• FE Civil
• FE Electrical and Computer
• FE Environmental
• FE Industrial and Systems
• FE Mechanical
• FE Other (General)

If you are unsure of which FE Exam to take, check out the FE Other (General) exam. This exam is PERFECT for those who do not know which specialty they want to go into. While the other six exams have very topic-specific exam specifications, the FE Other (General) exam combines topics from the other disciplines. You can look at the FE Other (General) exam specifications here.

When deciding which FE exam to take, it is also a great idea to evaluate the pass rates for an exam. Check out a breakdown of FE pass rates below: 

Overall Pass Rates

Exam*	Pass Rate
FE Chemical	74%
FE Civil	69%
FE Electrical and Computer	71%
FE Environmental	76%
FE Industrial and Systems	61%
FE Mechanical	77%
FE Other Disciplines	74%

FE Other Exam Breakdown of Undergraduate Degree*

Program*	Pass Rate
Architectural	66%
Civil	68%
Engineering Science	76%
Materials	76%
Mechanical	64%
Structural	100%

*As per NCEES 

*Only features examples of degrees that NCEES originally reported 

If looking at the pass rates makes you nervous, taking an FE exam prep review course can significantly increase your chance of passing the FE exam of your choosing. 

The FE Other (General) exam is great for those who are unsure of which engineering discipline they want to focus their career on. Apart from comparing exam specifications and pass rates for the different FE exams, it is always a great idea to call your state board and ask for advice. Happy studying!

Emerging Engineering Technology: Robots in the Construction Engineering Industry

It's almost 2019: the year that the movie Blade Runner was set in. If you've seen Blade Runner (or read the book it's based off of, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?), it's interesting to think about how past decades envisioned the 21^st century. In the movie, synthetic robot humans were created to do labor in off-world colonies for the Tyrell Corporation. 

Although we aren't building robotic humans now, we are using robotics to help do certain tasks. Robots are becoming relatively popular in the construction engineering industry. Check out how robots are helping below: 

Table of Contents

1. Brick-Laying

2. Surveying Land

3. Arc Welding

1. Brick-Laying 

As the robotics industry continually advances, those in the construction industry can take a breather, as robots are beginning to take over time-consuming repetitive tasks such as brick-laying. Of course, the robots would need supervision to make sure nothing goes wrong, but this advancement of technology is a big step forward for the construction industry.ⁱ 

2. Surveying Land 

What is that in the sky? Is it a bird? A plane? Neither! It's a drone! Drones have emerged throughout the past few years as not only a leisure device but also have made their way into engineering and surveying projects. Drones can be used to survey a construction site, send images of nearly inaccessible points on a structure, and improve overall job-site safety.ⁱⁱ 

3. Arc Welding 

Japan always seems to be in the lead of other countries when it comes to technological advances. A construction company in Japan is making their welding processes much quicker and efficient by using robots for arc welding structural steel. According to Robotics Online, "Steel I-beams are pre-cut by robots and brought to the job site when required with relatively little welding necessary. Most welding is performed by the robot in the factory, lending the building process to lean, Just-in-Time manufacturing."ⁱⁱⁱ 

With this exciting engineering technology emerging, now is a great time to go into the civil engineering field. To make the process of becoming a licensed civil engineer as smooth and as stress free as possible, School of PE offers an 84-hour PE Civil exam review course, which covers both the breadth and depth portions of the exam. Past PE Civil students have had great success with School of PE, as 90% of PE Civil students passed their exam in October 2017. 

References 

i. 10 Construction Trends Shaping the Industry in 2016 and Beyond. 

Retrieved from https:// www.forconstructionpros.com / business/article/12162200/10 construction-trends-shaping the-industry-in-2016-and-beyond 

ii. Dillow, C. The Construction Industry Is in Love with Drones. 

Retrieved from https://fortune.com/2016/09/13/commercial-drone-construction-industry/

iii. Brumson, B. (n.d.). Construction Robots and Constructing a Robotics Community. 

Retrieved from https://www.robotics.org/content-detail.cfm/Industrial-Robotics-Industry-Insights/Construction-Robots-and-Constructing-a-Robotics-Community/content_id/630

Which Exam Should You Take? PE Civil: Water Resources and Environmental vs PE Environmental

If you are interested in environmental engineering and want to become professionally licensed, you may be wondering which PE exam to take. NCEES offers two different environmental exams for professional licensing: PE Civil with a Water Resources and Environmental Depth, and PE Environmental. 

Deciding which exam to take may seem overwhelming, but there are a few strategies you can follow to select the exam that best suits you and your professional goals. To begin the comparison, simply look at NCEES' exam specifications for both exams:

PE Civil Exam Breadth Topics Project Planning

1. Means and Methods
2. Soil Mechanics
3. Structural Mechanics
4. Hydraulics and Hydrology
5. Geometrics
6. Materials
7. Site Development

PE Civil Exam Depth Topics

1. Analysis and Design
2. Hydraulics- Closed Circuits
3. Hydraulics- Open Channel
4. Hydrology
5. Groundwater and Wells
6. Wastewater Collection and Treatment
7. Water Quality
8. Drinking Water Distribution and Treatment
9. Engineering Economics Analysis

PE Environmental Exam Topics

1. Water
2. Air
3. Solid and Hazardous Waste
4. Site Assessment and Remediation
5. Environmental Health and Safety
6. Associated Engineering Principles

When evaluating each exam's specifications, you will notice that there are many more topics on the PE Civil: Water Resources and Environmental Exam and less on the PE Environmental exam. The PE Environmental exam is much broader in its topics, so if you are aiming to take the PE Environmental exam, make sure to look into each subtopic to get a better understanding of what the exam will present. The PE Civil exam has a number of subtopics under each topic, as well. A good strategy is to pick the exam that has the most topics that you are comfortable with. Of course, keep your career goals in mind when looking at the NCEES exam specifications.

Another thing to put into consideration when picking your exam is your state board's regulations. Some states may stamp your license with a general PE stamp, as others will specify which engineering discipline you are licensed under. Always make sure to contact your state board before signing up for a specific exam.

The History and Evolution of Engineering Technology: Ancient Era to Modern Day Technology

When one thinks of engineering, they most likely think of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or another division of engineering. Did you know that engineers have been around since the Ancient Era (c 2600 B.C)? Although they may have not been categorized specifically as engineers, many structures and inventions were strategically planned out and created. 

Throughout the years, engineers have been constantly evolving along with the technology that they use in their work. Check out how engineering has changed from the Ancient Era to modern Day in the History of Engineering infographic below:

Upcoming PDH Online Engineering Webinar: A Quick Dive Into Risk Management

With many state board Continuing Education deadlines approaching at the end of this year, many engineers are registering for PDH webinars and online courses in order to meet their state board's requirements. 

To help engineers in the process, School of PE has scheduled a number of interactive webinars for the next two months. One of those webinars is titled "A Quick Dive into Risk Management," and will be taught by Mr. Miller.

Mr. Miller has over 20 years of successful sales and management experience. He has taught Project Management courses for several years and has developed several Project Management courses. Mr. Miller has a proven track record of successfully coaching students in project management. 

For those who are interested in signing up for this webinar, I sat down with Mr. Miller to discuss the upcoming webinar session.

Can you explain what risk management is exactly? 

Simply put, Risk Management is the process of identifying potential risks (unexpected events), evaluating the identified risks, and prioritizing them. 

How does Risk Management tie into Project Management? 

When you are working on projects, you often have risks, such as unexpected events. An example of this would be falling behind on a project due to unforeseen weather. A project manager's work should not focus on dealing with problem, but it should rather focus on preventing them. 

Why would a webinar on risk management benefit engineers? 

People take risks every day. Everyone who gets out of bed and drives to work is taking a risk. Engineers work on projects and with those projects, there are risks. Attending a webinar on Risk Management can help engineers better understand how to identify, evaluate, and prioritize risks on a project. 

After taking the risk management webinar, what are a few main takeaways for students? 

Those who attend a webinar on risk management should walk away knowing that not all risks are bad and there are both positive and negative risk response strategies for dealing with risk.

Survival Guide 101: Preparing for the FE Exam During Senior Year of Undergrad

As an exam review course provider, we often get asked about the best time to take the FE exam. Our answer: during senior year of college. That may seem daunting, as many undergraduate seniors in college are extremely busy with final projects and internships. We get it: being an undergraduate student is stressful. 

Since undergraduates, especially engineer students, are so busy, why would we recommend taking the FE exam during a student's senior year of college? The main advantage college students have when taking the FE exam is that the information is very fresh in their minds. Many topics on the FE exam are based on concepts learned in undergraduate engineering classes. 

If you are planning on taking the FE exam during your senior year of undergrad and are stressed about balancing your course load and study schedule, check out some FE exam tips and strategies to ease as much stress as possible below:

Table of Contents

1. Create a Schedule

2. Review the FE Reference Handbook in Your Free Time

3. Watch Review Videos On-The-Go

1. Create a Schedule 

Determine when you are going to work on your school work and when you are going to study for the FE exam. Hopefully, many of your undergrad engineering courses will cover similar topics that are on the FE exam specifications, so this should take some stress off of your shoulders. Either way, try to block out two to three hours a day to specifically dedicate to the FE exam and leave the rest of your time for class work. If you begin preparing 3 months before the FE exam, you will have more than enough time to prepare. 

2. Review the FE Reference Handbook in Your Free Time 

The FE Reference Handbook is the only reference material you can use during the FE exam. You can download a free copy from MyNCEES. It is very important to have a good understanding of this handbook so you won't spend too much time during the exam trying to find specific formulas, charts, or tables. During lunch or between classes, flip through the manual to make sure you are familiar with its content and layout. 

3. Watch Review Videos On-The-Go 

Whether you are riding a campus bus or running on a treadmill at the gym, watching interactive FE exam prep course videos are the perfect tool to study with. You can watch videos on your phone, but don't forget to bring a pair of headphones!

Ondemand: The Perfect PE Exam Review Course Format for Busy Professionals

The October 2018 exam has come and gone, and now School of PE is striving to prepare PE students for the Spring 2019 exam. From PE Civil or PE Mechanical to PE Electrical or PE Environmental, School of PE provides a wide variety of PE exam review courses. If you are considering taking the PE exam, you may be wondering when you should begin studying. 

Of course, the length of time it takes for a person to grasp all of the material the PE exam goes over may differ, as some may struggle more than others, but many PE exam applicants have reported spending approximately 200 to 300 hours preparing for NCEES exams, which includes attending exam review courses, reading supplemental material, and taking practice exams. 

If you have a really busy schedule and feel that you need more time than others to prepare for the exam or just want to get started right away, School of PE offers an Ondemand format. This format is perfect for:

1. Working professionals
2. College students 
3. Parents 
4. Anyone with a hectic schedule

Our Ondemand format is the most flexible format, as it provides immediate access after registration and allows you to study at your own pace. Since registration for the Spring 2019 session is open, you can sign up today and begin studying right away! It's that easy! 

Don't put off studying for the PE exam. Nothing is worse than cramming for a big licensure exam just weeks before the exam.