If you are an engineering student or early-career engineer, you have probably heard people talk about “the FE” and “the PE” as though they are the same thing. They are not. The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and the Professional Engineer (PE) exam are two separate licensing milestones with different formats, prerequisites, and career implications. Understanding the distinction — and the correct order — is the first step toward getting licensed.
Key Takeaways
- The FE exam comes first and earns you the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation
- The PE exam requires passing the FE plus 4 years of qualifying experience
- FE is a breadth exam (110 questions, 5 hr 20 min); PE is a depth exam (80–85 questions, 8–9 hours, depending on discipline)
- A PE license can increase your salary by 10–20% and is required to sign and seal engineering drawings
What Is the FE Exam?
The FE exam is the first of two exams required for professional engineering licensure in the United States. Administered by NCEES (the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying), it tests your knowledge of fundamental engineering principles across a broad range of topics.
Think of the FE as a cumulative final exam for your engineering degree. It covers mathematics, probability and statistics, ethics, economics, and then discipline-specific topics depending on which version you choose.
| Detail | FE Exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 110 |
| Time | 5 hours 20 minutes (plus 25-min break) |
| Format | Computer-based at Pearson VUE centers |
| Disciplines | 7 versions: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical & Computer, Chemical, Environmental, Industrial & Systems, Other Disciplines |
| Reference | FE Reference Handbook (provided on-screen) |
| Registration cost | $225 |
| Prerequisite | Enrolled in or graduated from an ABET-accredited program (varies by state) |
| Result | Engineer in Training (EIT) / Engineer Intern (EI) designation |
The FE is offered year-round, so you can schedule it whenever you are ready. Most people take it during their senior year of college or within a few years of graduation while the material is still fresh. For a detailed look at the format, see our FE Handbook Navigation Guide.
What Is the PE Exam?
The PE exam is the second and final exam on the path to full professional licensure. Where the FE tests breadth, the PE tests depth — it focuses on your specific engineering specialty and assumes you can apply engineering principles to real-world problems at a professional level.
| Detail | PE Exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 80–85, depending on discipline |
| Time | 8–9 hours (depends on discipline) |
| Format | Computer-based at Pearson VUE centers |
| Disciplines | 25+ specialty exams (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, etc.) |
| Reference | PE Reference Handbook (provided on-screen, discipline-specific) |
| Registration cost | $400 |
| Prerequisite | Passing FE + 4 years qualifying experience under a licensed PE |
| Result | Professional Engineer (PE) license — authority to sign and seal drawings |
The PE exam is significantly harder than the FE, not because the questions are more tricky, but because the material is deeper and the expectations are higher. You are expected to solve problems the way a practicing professional would. Read PE license success stories for real accounts of what the journey looks like.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | FE Exam | PE Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prove foundational knowledge | Prove professional competence |
| Scope | Broad (many topics, moderate depth) | Deep (fewer topics, advanced depth) |
| Questions | 110 | 80–85 |
| Duration | 5 hr 20 min | 8–9 hours |
| Cost | $225 | $400 |
| When to take | Senior year or early career | After 4 years of experience |
| Pass rate (first attempt) | ~60–70% | ~50–70% (varies widely by discipline) |
| Scheduling | Year-round | Year-round (most disciplines) |
| Designation earned | EIT / EI | PE |
The Licensing Path: FE First, Then PE
There is no shortcut here. In nearly every U.S. state, the path to a PE license follows these steps in order:
- Earn an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program (see the ABET accreditation explainer) or meet your state’s alternative requirements through a non-ABET, technology, foreign-degree, or experience-based path.
- Pass the FE exam to earn the EIT/EI designation
- Gain 4 years of qualifying experience under a licensed PE (some states require more)
- Pass the PE exam to earn your PE license
- Maintain your license through continuing education (requirements vary by state)
Career Impact: EIT vs PE
Why does this matter? Because a PE license is not just a credential — it unlocks capabilities and compensation that are otherwise unavailable to you.
What you can do as an EIT (after passing the FE)
- List “EIT” or “EI” after your name on your resume and LinkedIn
- Demonstrate to employers that you have verified engineering competence
- Begin accumulating the experience needed for your PE
- Differentiate yourself from engineers who never pursued licensure
What you can do as a PE (after passing the PE)
- Sign and seal engineering drawings, reports, and plans — this is legally required for many types of public-facing work
- Take responsible charge of projects — many firms require a PE for project manager or principal engineer roles
- Earn more money — PE-licensed engineers typically earn 10–20% more than non-licensed peers
- Testify as an expert witness in legal proceedings
- Start your own engineering firm — most states require a PE to offer engineering services to the public
Is a PE license required in your field?
In civil, structural, and environmental engineering, a PE is nearly always required for career advancement. In electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering, it depends on your industry — consulting and public works demand it; product development and manufacturing sometimes do not. Regardless, a PE license never hurts your career and often opens doors you did not know were closed.
How Hard Is Each Exam?
The FE is challenging but very passable with focused preparation. Most first-time test takers who put in 200–400 hours of study pass. The breadth of topics is the main challenge — you need to know a little about a lot of subjects. For an honest assessment, see Is the FE Exam Hard?
The PE is harder, full stop. The questions require deeper understanding, the problems are more complex, and the time pressure is intense (80–85 questions in 8–9 hours means multi-step problems). Most PE candidates study 300–500+ hours. The upside: by the time you sit for the PE, you have 4+ years of professional experience to draw on.
For a deeper look at FE difficulty and pass rates by discipline, see our FE exam pass rates breakdown.
Cost Comparison
Licensure is an investment, but it does not have to be an expensive one. Here is what each step typically costs:
| Expense | FE Path | PE Path |
|---|---|---|
| Exam registration | $225 | $400 |
| State board fee | $0–$50 | $25–$100+ |
| Prep materials (budget) | $25–$100 | $50–$200 |
| Prep materials (premium) | $500–$1,500+ | $1,000–$3,000+ |
| Calculator | ~$20 | ~$20 (same approved list) |
For a complete cost breakdown including hidden fees, see our FE Exam Cost Breakdown.
Which Discipline Should You Choose?
For the FE, choose the discipline that matches your degree. If you studied civil engineering, take the FE Civil. If you studied electrical engineering, take the FE Electrical & Computer. This gives you the best chance of passing because the material aligns with what you learned in school.
For discipline-specific guidance, see our study guides:
- FE Civil Study Guide
- FE Electrical & Computer Study Guide
- FE Mechanical Study Guide
- FE Chemical Study Guide
- FE Environmental Study Guide
For the PE, you choose a specialty within your discipline. Civil engineers, for example, can specialize in Transportation, Structural, Water Resources & Environmental, Geotechnical, or Construction. Electrical engineers can specialize in Power or Computer Engineering. Choose the specialty that best reflects your professional experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the FE and PE exam?
The FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam is a breadth exam covering general engineering topics taken early in your career. It has 110 questions over 5 hours 20 minutes. The PE (Professional Engineer) exam is a depth exam in your specific engineering specialty taken after 4 years of experience. It has 80 questions over 8–9 hours. You must pass the FE before taking the PE.
Should I take the FE exam or PE exam first?
You must take the FE exam first. The FE is a prerequisite for the PE exam in all U.S. states. After passing the FE, you earn the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation. After gaining 4 years of qualifying engineering experience under a licensed PE, you can then take the PE exam.
How much does a PE license increase your salary?
Engineers with a PE license typically earn 10–20% more than their non-licensed peers, according to multiple salary surveys. The premium varies by discipline and industry, but in fields like civil, structural, and electrical engineering, a PE license can add $10,000–$30,000 or more to your annual salary and is often required for career advancement into senior technical or management roles.
Can I take the PE exam without passing the FE exam?
In most states, no. The standard path requires passing the FE exam first. However, a small number of states offer alternative pathways for engineers with extensive experience (typically 15–20+ years). These exceptions are rare and vary by state. For the vast majority of engineers, passing the FE is a mandatory step toward the PE license.
Alternative FE Eligibility Paths Without a Standard Engineering Degree
The standard sequence is ABET engineering degree, FE exam, EIT/EI certification, qualifying experience, then PE exam. Some candidates enter through engineering technology, foreign-degree, non-ABET, or experience-based paths; this section explains how those paths fit into the FE-to-PE comparison.
The short answer: it depends on your state. The standard path to the FE exam requires an engineering degree from an ABET-accredited program, but there are legitimate alternative pathways for people with non-ABET degrees, engineering technology degrees, foreign credentials, or extensive work experience. Here is what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- The standard path requires enrollment in or graduation from an ABET-accredited engineering program
- Many states accept non-ABET engineering degrees with additional experience requirements
- Engineering technology (ET) degrees are accepted in many states, sometimes with extra experience
- Foreign degrees are accepted in most states, often with a credential evaluation
- A few states allow candidates with no degree but significant engineering experience
- Your state board has the final say — always check directly with them
The Standard Path: ABET-Accredited Engineering Degree
The most straightforward path to the FE exam is graduating from (or being enrolled in the final year of) an engineering program accredited by ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). ABET accredits programs at roughly 850 colleges and universities worldwide.
If your program is ABET EAC-accredited, every state board in the U.S. will accept your application to take the FE exam. This is the path that roughly 80% of FE exam candidates follow.
You can check whether your program is accredited at abet.org/accreditation/find-programs.
Path 2: Non-ABET Engineering Degree
If you have an engineering degree from a program that is not ABET-accredited (perhaps a smaller university, a newer program, or a school that chose not to seek accreditation), your options depend on your state:
- Many states accept non-ABET degrees but require additional years of engineering experience (typically 2–4 years beyond what ABET graduates need)
- Some states require a curriculum evaluation to verify that your coursework is equivalent to an ABET-accredited program
- A few states only accept ABET-accredited degrees — in these states, you may need to apply through a different state that accepts your credentials
Path 3: Engineering Technology Degree
Engineering technology (ET) programs are different from engineering (E) programs. ET programs are accredited by ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC), not the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC). The distinction matters because some state boards treat them differently.
| State Policy | What It Means for ET Graduates |
|---|---|
| Full acceptance | ET degree treated the same as an engineering degree for FE eligibility. Some states in this category. |
| Acceptance with extra experience | ET graduates can take the FE but need 2–4 additional years of engineering experience. This is the most common policy. |
| No acceptance | ET degrees are not accepted for FE exam eligibility. This is less common but does exist in some states. |
If you have a 4-year ABET ETAC-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering technology, check your state board first. If your state does not accept ET degrees, consider applying through a state that does.
Path 4: Foreign Engineering Degree
Engineers educated outside the United States can take the FE exam in most states. The process depends on whether your degree program is recognized internationally:
Washington Accord countries
If your degree is from a program accredited by a signatory of the Washington Accord (which includes accrediting bodies in the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many other countries), your degree is generally treated as equivalent to an ABET-accredited degree. This makes the process straightforward.
Non-Washington Accord countries
If your degree is from a program not covered by the Washington Accord, most states will require:
- A credential evaluation from an approved agency. Common agencies include:
- World Education Services (WES)
- Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
- NCEES Credentials Evaluation service
- Possible additional experience: Some states require 1–4 additional years of U.S.-based or equivalent engineering experience for non-Washington Accord degrees.
Credential Evaluation Timeline
Budget 4–8 weeks for credential evaluation, plus time to gather translated transcripts and degree certificates. Start this process well before you plan to register for the FE exam. Some agencies offer expedited services for an additional fee.
Path 5: No Engineering Degree (Experience Only)
A small number of states allow candidates to take the FE exam based on engineering work experience alone, without any engineering degree. This is the least common pathway and typically requires:
- 8–20+ years of progressive engineering experience
- Work under a licensed PE for some or all of that experience
- Documentation of your engineering work, often requiring PE references
This path exists because engineering licensure boards recognize that some people gain genuine engineering competence through decades of on-the-job training and experience, even without a formal degree. However, it is a narrow exception, not the norm.
How to Find Your State’s Specific Requirements
Since eligibility varies significantly by state, you must check directly with your state board. Here is how:
- Visit the NCEES website: ncees.org/licensure has links to every state board
- Contact your state board directly: Call or email them with your specific situation. Most boards are responsive and can tell you exactly what documentation you need.
- Ask about alternative pathways: If the standard path does not fit your situation, ask specifically about non-ABET degree acceptance, experience-based qualifications, or comity options.
Do not rely on forum posts or unofficial sources for eligibility information. Requirements change, and incorrect information could waste months of preparation. Go to the source.
What If You Are Still in School?
Most state boards allow you to take the FE exam during your final year of an engineering program. You do not need to have graduated yet — you just need to be within one year of completing your degree. This is actually the best time to take the exam, because the material is freshest in your mind.
Check with your school’s engineering department, as many universities coordinate group FE exam registrations for seniors.
Which FE Discipline Should Non-Traditional Candidates Choose?
If your background does not map neatly to one of the specific FE disciplines (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Environmental), consider the FE Other Disciplines exam. It covers a broader range of topics at a more general level, making it a good fit for candidates with diverse or non-traditional backgrounds. (Note: our app currently supports the five discipline-specific FE exams and four PE exams.)
However, if your work experience is concentrated in a specific discipline (even without a matching degree), you may perform better on the discipline-specific exam because it aligns with what you know from practice. Consider taking a diagnostic practice exam in both and comparing your scores. For discipline-specific guidance:
- FE Civil Study Guide
- FE Electrical & Computer Study Guide
- FE Mechanical Study Guide
- FE Chemical Study Guide
- FE Environmental Study Guide
Preparation Tips for Non-Traditional Candidates
If you are taking the FE exam without a traditional ABET engineering degree, you may face additional study challenges. Here is how to address them:
- Start with math. If your academic background did not include calculus-based mathematics through differential equations, this is your first priority. The FE exam assumes this foundation. Budget extra time — see how long to study for the FE exam.
- Use the NCEES exam specification as your curriculum. Download the specification for your chosen FE discipline from ncees.org. It lists every topic the exam covers. Use it as a checklist to identify what you know and what you need to learn.
- Build a longer study timeline. Where a recent ABET graduate might need 2–3 months, budget 4–6 months or more if you are learning topics for the first time rather than reviewing them. See our study schedule options.
- Get a broad review book. A good FE review manual explains concepts from the ground up, which is more useful than resources designed for people who are just refreshing.
- The exam cost is the same for everyone. See our cost breakdown for budgeting guidance.
The Bigger Picture: FE to PE
Passing the FE exam is just the first step toward a PE license. After the FE, you will need to accumulate qualifying engineering experience (typically 4 years) before taking the PE exam. The FE vs PE comparison covers the full licensing path.
For non-traditional candidates, the experience requirement may partially overlap with the experience you already have. Some states count pre-FE experience toward the PE requirement, while others start the clock only after you pass the FE. Check with your state board.
For inspiration from engineers who took non-traditional paths to licensure, see our returning engineer guide and PE success stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the FE exam without an engineering degree?
It depends on your state. NCEES allows registration for anyone enrolled in or graduated from an ABET-accredited program. Individual state boards set their own rules: some accept non-ABET degrees, engineering technology degrees, or work experience in lieu of a degree. Contact your state board directly for specific requirements.
Can I take the FE exam with a foreign engineering degree?
Yes, in most states. If your degree is from a Washington Accord-recognized program, it is generally treated as equivalent to ABET. Otherwise, you may need a credential evaluation from an approved agency (WES, ECE, or NCEES). Some states require additional experience for non-Washington Accord degrees.
Can I take the FE exam with an engineering technology degree?
Many states accept ABET ETAC-accredited engineering technology degrees, though some require additional years of experience. A few states do not accept ET degrees at all. Check your specific state board’s requirements, as policies vary significantly.
Start Your Licensing Journey Today
Whether you are preparing for the FE or PE exam, effective practice is the fastest path to passing. Try exam-realistic practice questions with detailed explanations, timed sessions, and performance tracking to identify your weak spots before exam day.