The official name of the exam you will take is the Fundamentals of Engineering, or FE, exam. Until recently, however, the exam was called the Engineer-in-Training, or EIT, exam. This name goes back many years, and many engineers still refer to the test as the EIT exam. You'll see and hear both names used interchangeably.

The FE exam is the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. The old name of the exam was the EIT (Engineer in Training).

Although the FE/EIT calculator is primarily designed for candidates who are taking general modules for both the morning and afternoon parts of the exam, it is also suitable for candidates who are taking a non-general module in the afternoon.

Ideally, you should take the FE exam while you are still in engineering school, or shortly after graduation. The longer you wait, the harder the exam will be. Most states permit you to sit for the exam as a college senior, and some states allow juniors, as well. Much of what the exam covers is basic information that you learn in the first two or three years of your undergraduate engineering education.

The FE exam tests basic knowledge of engineering principles. Much of the information on the exam is covered in the first two years and a half years of an undergraduate engineering education. That is why you should ideally take the exam while you are in college when the information is fresh and you have good study habits. The exam consists of two four-hour sessions, one administered in the morning and one administered in the afternoon.

The FE exam consists of two four-hour sessions administered on a single day. The MORNING session includes 120 multiple-choice questions worth one point each. Each question has four answer choices. The following subjects are represented (per NCEES): The first six tests focus on a single discipline--hence they are called the "discipline-specific" exams. The "General" test covers the same range of subject areas as the morning session.

The questions are grouped by subject. This is helpful in that it allows you to focus on a particular area without distraction.

The only reference you may take into the exam is the official NCEES FE Supplied-Reference Handbook. This publication contains equations and data that you will need during the exam.

NCEES states they are moving toward an all-metric (SI) FE exam. Currently, at least 80% of the AM session quantitative problems must be solved using SI units. The remainder may be solved using either SI or US customary (USCS) units. On the PM exams, metric units areused exclusively except for the Civil and Environmental discipline-specific modules. These two modules have problems in both metric and USCS units, depending on the subject area.

EIT is information technology (IT), as defined at FAR 2.101, and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. In addition to IT, EIT includes:

Fundamentals of Engineering Supplied-Reference Handbook, the only book allowed into the exam. Familiarizing yourself with the content and organization of the book in advance will save time searching for information during the exam. Exam Files FE supplemental review study guide for additional problem-solving practice in specific subject areas. See our FE review materials

The advice given by recent examinees is virtually unanimous: work practice problems, find out where your weaknesses lie, study those areas, and then work more practice problems. Taking a timed practice exam (or a partial exam) is a popular strategy. This not only gives you more practice solving problems but also lets you find out how well you perform under pressure.

The FE exam is offered for Georgia Tech students every April and October at Georgia State University (or another location determined by ELSES). The projected exam schedule is below:

Please note that there are 2 parts to the application. The first part is an application for the state of GA so they can determine if you are eligible for the exam. The second part is to register for the exam through the Engineering and Land Surveying Examination Services (ELSES). You must perform both steps (at different times) to be eligible for the exam. The procedure is as follows: Click here to obtain Georgia State Board of Professional Engineers FE Exam form.

The calculator programs were designed for use with the new format exams, and were not originally designed for the old format exams.

Passing this exam legally certifies the candidate as an "engineer in training" (EIT), or an "engineer intern" (EI). Generally four more years of experience are required before the EIT or EI is permitted to sit for the PE exam. Passing the PE exam qualifies the candidate as a licensed professional engineer.

You can study on your own following the topics described on the FE exam website. Also there is an FE review class offered by local members of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. For more information about this local class, please click here. When is the fundamentals of engineering exam administered? April and October. See their web site for the schedule.