Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam

The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam is now given via computer-based testing (CBT). You can take the FE exam at any approved Pearson VUE testing center. Please review the NCEES Examinee Guide prior to starting the exam registration process.

You no longer have to be within two semesters of graduating to take the exam. You may take the exam when you feel you are ready. To register, click here and select ND as your Licensing Board. You will also be required to choose which exam you will be taking (i.e.: FE Civil, FE Mechanical, FE Other Disciplines).

There are four testing windows with each lasting two months. Exam appointments will be available in January-February, April-May, July-August and October-November. You may take the exam only one time per testing window and no more than three times in a 12-month period, which begins with your first attempt. Candidates registering to take the FE exam will be required to pay NCEES directly for all exam-related fees.

The FE Exam will be six hours in length, which will include a tutorial, breaks, the exam and a brief survey at the conclusion of the exam. The exam continues to be “closed book” and the supplied reference material for the exam will be electronic and available on the NCEES website. Examinees will be allowed to bring and use NCEES-approved calculators on CBT exams. The list of approved calculators can be found here. Exam preparation materials can be found at the NCEES website, practice exams are available for purchase.

Once you graduate and receive your degree, you would complete an application for intern certification. When the board receives your application, they would then verify your FE results.  When the Board approves your application for certification as an intern, you will be required to take a two-hour state specific examination on North Dakota laws and rules governing the practices of professional engineering. There will be no technical questions on this examination and the reference for the exam will be supplied. The exam is administered on demand by logging onto the Board’s web site. The “Intern Exam” is a two-hour, 60-question, open book, multiple choice exam. A passing score is 70. Candidates will be allowed to re-take the exam if necessary but will not be required to re-take the fundamentals exam.

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